Vibronic Exciton Matter Sustained by Negative U, Exciton Pairing and Dispersive Interactions: A Possible Clue to Ball Lightning
Jai Singh and Mladen Georgiev
A theory for the processes involved in the formation of vibronic self-trapped Frenkel exciton states in very soft condensed matter is presented. Such soft condensed matter can be found near the earth surface during wet seasons as a combination of gases and water vapour. The condensed system can be excited by thunderstorms to form Frenkel excitons, which subsequently relax to self-trapped, vibronic and paired exciton states by releasing the excess energy non-radiatively in the environment. The radiative recombination from such lowered excited energy state of Frenkel excitons may give rise to a red to yellow photoluminescence as observed in ball lightning.