On Possible Manifestations of the Metallic Bond in Thunderclouds (О возможных проявлениях металлической связи в грозовых облаках)

The present work is devoted to the problem of initiation and development of the lightning discharge. Based on the analysis of the available experimental data on thunderstorm activity, a number of hypotheses concerning the problematic issues of physics of lightning discharges is suggested. It is discussed a possible mechanism allowing the charges from the vast cloud of charged subsystems to concentrate in the lightning channel in the implementation of lightning discharges. The mechanism of origin of metallic conductivity includes a resonant passage of electrons along the resonant-percolation paths. Complicated aspects of lightning discharges are connected with the collective behavior of particles of intracloud environment. The formation of metallic bonds in thunderclouds is described as the second-order phase transition. A mechanism is proposed for the process of successive formation of the lightning channel. The consideration is carried out on the microphysical level. The possible physical consequences are analyzed. [In Russian]