Jack Nachamkin

Jack Nachamkin developed the force-free time-harmonic plasmoid model under contract F04611-88-C-0020 for Phillips Laboratory (AFRL predecessor), Edwards AFB. The project manager was Dr. Frank Mead. The model describes a 'heretofore unexplored solution of Maxwell's equations' for time-harmonic waves in partially ionized gas. Spherically symmetric cases behave like electromagnetic energy trapped as a plasmoid. A critical frequency exists below which the plasmoid cannot remain stable. Resonant sizes exist where the plasmoid will not exchange energy with external surroundings. A stable vortical motion of the plasma exactly cancels the dominant component of electromechanical stresses. Nachamkin's later work involved electromagnetic radiation upon dielectric spheres and associated resonances, where two spheres placed in proximity create beat frequencies — directly relevant to the three-orb coordination problem. His work was referenced in AC Holt papers alongside Teller, Winterberg, Forward, Froning, and Hathaway. The 2003 Davis Ball Lightning Study was specifically tasked with reviewing Nachamkin's 1992 model and proposing experiments to generate force-free plasmoid ball lightning in the laboratory.