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[Host, Michael] Today, we offer a brief introduction to a fundamental
theoretical difference between traditional solar physics and astronomy,
and the physics of plasma cosmology.
On the Sun, we're told the magnetic field lines move,
or merge, and frequently break and "reconnect".
This process is called magnetic reconnection,
a mechanism that many solar physicists claimed to be responsible for
enormous energetic outbursts from the Sun, such as solar flares.
We are told the magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetosphere
is one of the causes of Earth's aurora.
And, astronomers now envision the process in the magnetospheres of many planets.
However, the 20th century's most distinguished plasma physicist,
Nobel laureate Hannes Alfven, admonished astronomers to drop the concept
of "magnetic reconnection" since the language confuses cause-and-effect.
Alfven stated, "Of course there can be no magnetic merging energy transfer.
Despite ... this we have witnessed at the same time an enormously
voluminous formalism building up based on this obviously erroneous concept".
Thunderbolts colleague Dr. Jeremy Dunning Davies explores
the plasma cosmology alternative to the reconnection concept.
[Jeremy] The subject is magnetic reconnection.
Now, in very simple terms from what is written, it seems that as far as magnetic
reconnection is concerned, one is required to believe that enormous quantities
of energy are produced by magnetic lines of force breaking, and then reconnecting.
Now, undoubtedly there is some physical process occuring which produces
the enormous quantities of energy observed in the situations concerned.
But, this explanation, at least in it's simplest form,
cannot possibly be valid since, crucially, lines of force are simply not real.
They're not physical entities.
Now in astrophysics, the idea of magnetic reconnection is used to explain
some huge surges of energy in what, for example, solar flares.
This point needs to be considered now, in the light of what I've just said.
But, it might be noted that, when you take separate magnetic fields
and they come together and combine into a single field, the strength of
that resulting field will be enhanced at some points, and weakened at others.
The overall result might be expected to be a completely new
pattern of lines of force due to the totally new magnetic field,
brought about by the natural merging of the original fields.
Again, there's no breaking of lines of force,
merely the natural emergence of a new pattern due to the said merging.
As for the enormous quantities of energy produced in some physical occurrences,
such as solar flares, it seems to me, far more likely that the true explanation
is to be found within the realms of plasma cosmology/plasma physics,
whichever you like to call it.
Now, most of the experiments associated with plasmas
are performed in normal-sized laboratories, here on the Earth.
And, there's no real reason to suppose the results of such experiments
extrapolate to the cosmic scale but, we've got to start somewhere.
And, it seems that the field of plasma research does offer many good clues
to help in the search for the real explanation of such phenomena, as solar flares.
Now, this is seen quite rapidly by examining the contents
of Anthony Peratt's book, 'Physics of the Plasma Universe'.
In this volume (Chapter 5 of this volume, specifically),
one reads of double layers and their properties;
and in Section 5.5 of that very chapter, which deals with the basic properties
of these double layers, one reads of the phenomenon of exploding double layers.
Now interestingly, this is a topic discussed also in
Alfvén and Arrhenius book, 'Evolution of the Solar System'.
And, in that book on page 250 and I'll quote specifically from it.
They say, "If a current flows through an electrostatic double layer
(which is often produced by the current itself), the layer may cut off the current.
This means that the voltage over the double layer may reach
any value necessary to break the circuit (in the laboratory, this could be 10^6V;
in a solar flare, it might be even of the order of 10^10V).
The plasma, however, explodes and a high-vacuum region is produced.
Now, all this information, specifically in Peratt's book,
relating to double layers would seem to indicate a more physically realistic
explanation of some cosmological phenomena, such as solar flares.
Indeed, as far as solar flares are concerned, they are discussed specifically
in Section 5.6.2 of Anthony Peratt's Book.
Now, bearing in mind the total physical illogicality of the notion
of magnetic reconnection, together with the realization
that a physically acceptable alternative is there for all to see and examine,
it is difficult to see how the presently accepted position can remain tenable,
and accepted, as yet another piece of scientific conventional wisdom.
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