It is shown that a recent paper by G.D. Shabanov [Phys. Usp. 62 92 (2019); Usp. Fiz. Nauk 189 95 (2019)] contains several important unsubstantiated and erroneous statements. In particular, the estimate of the discharge of an average ball lightning presented in this paper corresponds to the impossible situation with the approximately 100-fold excess of the electric field strength near the external boundary of the ball lightning over the air breakdown field under nearly standard conditions.

Keywords: Gatchina discharge, long-lived luminous formations, ball lightning, electric air breakdown PACS: 51.50.+v, 52.80.Mg, 92.60.Pw (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2019.05.038621 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2020/1/h/ 000537855600008 2-s2.0-85084826131 2020PhyU...63...96S Citation: Shmatov M L "Once again on the Gatchina discharge and ball lightning (comments on G.D. Shabanov's paper "On the possibility of making natural ball lightning using a new pulse discharge type in the laboratory" [Phys. Usp. 62 92 (2019); Usp. Fiz. Nauk 189 95 (2019)])" Phys. Usp. 63 96–98 (2020) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 13th, May 2019, accepted: 22nd, May 2019 Оригинал: Шматов М Л «Ещё раз о гатчинском разряде и шаровой молнии (комментарий к статье Г.Д. Шабанова "О возможности создания природной шаровой молнии импульсным разрядом нового типа в лабораторных условиях" [УФН 189 95 (2019)]» УФН 190 107–109 (2020); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2019.05.038621