Peter Handel

Handel's maser-caviton theory was first described in 1975 (Bulletin of the APS, Series II, Vol. 20, No. 26) and developed in detail in his 1994 JGR paper 'Development of the maser-caviton ball lightning theory' (JGR 99, 10689, 1994, with Jean-Francois Leitner). The theory proposes that lightning electric field pulses create population inversion in H2O rotational levels, forming a large atmospheric maser (volume of several cubic miles). The maser generates a localized high-field soliton (caviton) — a plasma cavity surrounded by a plasma shell. The maser energy feeds the caviton continuously. At the 2008 APS April Meeting (Session K1.18), Handel presented 'Theory of the Motion of Ball Lightning' and stated: 'A similar phase dynamics is expected to be applicable to the special case of UFO motions.' This is a direct, on-record scientific claim connecting ball lightning theory to UAP. Handel and Leitner co-authored Kurchatov Institute-related work. The Kurchatov researchers created localized spheroidal plasmas in atmospheric-pressure air (JETP 1995). Handel's theory and Nachamkin's force-free model are complementary: Nachamkin addresses structure/stability, Handel addresses energy supply/formation.