From a University College, London Press Release – Solar winds triggered by magnetic fields
Solar wind generated by the sun is probably driven by a process involving powerful magnetic fields, according to a new study led by UCL researchers based on the latest observations from the Hinode satellite.
Scientists have long speculated on the source of solar winds. The Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS), on board the Japanese-UK-US Hinode satellite, is now generating unprecedented observations enabling scientists to provide a new perspective on the 50-year old question of how solar wind is driven. The collaborative study, published in this month’s issue of Astrophysical Journal, suggests that a process called slipping reconnection may drive these winds.
Deb Baker, lead author from UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory, says: “Solar wind is an outflow of million-degree gas and magnetic field that engulfs the Earth and other planets. It fills the entire solar system and links with the magnetic fields of the Earth and other planets. Changes in the Sun’s million-mile-per-hour wind can induce disturbances within near-Earth space and our upper atmosphere and yet we still don’t know what drives these outflows.”
“However, our latest study suggests that it is the release of energy stored in solar magnetic fields which provides the additional driver for the solar wind. This magnetic energy release is most efficient in the brightest regions of activity on the Sun’s surface, called active regions or sunspot groups, which are strong concentrations of magnetic field. We believe that this fundamental process happens everywhere on the Sun on virtually all scales.”
Images taken in February 2007 from the EIS instrument showed that hot plasma outflows are due to a process called slipping reconnection. At the edges of active regions where this process can occur, a slow, continuous restructuring of the magnetic field leads to the release of energy and acceleration of particles in the Sun’s hot outer atmosphere, known as the corona. Slipping reconnection is the first theory to explain how observed outflows from the Sun can be located over areas of a single magnetic sign, something previously considered improbable.
Computer models of the Sun’s magnetic field were used to identify regions where slipping reconnection could occur. The locations proposed by the computer model were compared with measurements of the speed of the gas coming from the solar corona. The comparison showed the gas was moving outward at up to 100,000 mph, 1,000 times the wind speed in a hurricane, over the possible slipping reconnection regions.
The study was carried out by the UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Observatoire de Paris, Konkoly Observatory in Hungary and Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio in Argentina. Deborah Baker is funded by a Science and Technology Funding Council (STFC) studentship.
Hinode is a Japanese mission developed and launched by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISIS) and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) as domestic partner and NASA and STFC (UK) as international partners. It is operated by these agencies in co-operation with the European Space Agency (ESA) and Norwegian Space Centre (NSC).
Data that served as the basis for the magnetic modelling was provided by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.
See the Research paper in The Astrophysical Journal
Lucy Skywalker (16:42:43) :
ok, thanks Leif, I shall study both.
That is good. This is all I ask. And if you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
third Electric Universe prediction:
“If the diagram above is close to the real situation then we might expect cosmic-ray electrons to arrive from the double layer in the opposite direction in the sky to the nuclear cosmic rays.”
http://www.holoscience.com/news.php?article=74fgmwne
fourth prediction:
“The EU model is based on a hierarchy of repeated patterns of plasma behavior, from the size of a galaxy down to a few centimeters in the laboratory. Therefore it is subject to experimental confirmation, unlike most astrophysical theory today. So discoveries from space like this one should trigger experiments in plasma laboratories around the world instead of theorists wasting resources by conjuring up ever more complex and unlikely models based on invalid concepts of space plasma. IBEX’s recent results that have taken researchers by surprise have given yet more strength to the EU model, a model that confidently predicts that the shape of the Sun’s galactic plasma environment is the hourglass, Z-pinch shape of planetary nebulae and supernovae, aligned with the local interstellar magnetic field.”
Zeke (17:47:46) :
The solar cycle is controlled by its local galactic Z-pinch
This is the kind of nonsense that eventually will give WUWT a bad name and reputation.
The empirical method of testing a hypothesis and making predictions is not, however, nonsense.
Zeke (18:27:15) :
The empirical method of testing a hypothesis and making predictions is not, however, nonsense.
Yes, if the prediction is not unique to the hypothesis being tested, or is too vague to be tested. Example from ‘prediction 1’ “bright spots, filamentary structures”. Since the solar wind already has these in abundance, they are useless as predictions. Example from ‘prediction 2’ “The “brightness” of the ENA’s should vary, probably out of phase with the solar cycle.’”. ‘probably’ does not belong in a prediction, because if the prediction fails, you can always claim that it was only a probability.
Is not solar wind constituted of free electrons & ions, charged particles?
Do not the free electrons & ions constitute plasma?
As opposed to neutral atoms?
I could go on, but the point is this: To give a description of the solar wind and calling it “just hot gas” is factually wrong.
Few astrophysicists would agree with the solar wind’s characterization as “just hot gas”.
Dr. Svalgaard is counting on readers to take his “say so” at face value, but the facts say otherwise.
Leif Svalgaard (18:51:21) :
Yes, if the prediction is not unique to the hypothesis being tested, or is too vague to be tested. Example from ‘prediction 1′ “bright spots, filamentary structures”. Since the solar wind already has these in abundance, they are useless as predictions.
This is not a vague predicition. If you read “Electric Sun Verified,” it is further elucidated and demonstrated with diagrams of labratory plasma discharge formations.
His published paper “The Z-Pinch Morphology of Supernova 1987A and Electric Stars,” also discusses this particular plasma discharge morphology.
What is demonstrated in the lab provides “a precise analog” for the supernove 1987A. It is “a match so accurate that the number of bright beads can be accounted for and their behavior predicted.”
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=4287093
http://www.holoscience.com/news.php?article=re6qxnz1
sp: laboratory.
James F. Evans (19:10:42) :
Is not solar wind constituted of free electrons & ions, charged particles? Do not the free electrons & ions constitute plasma?
As opposed to neutral atoms?
All matter consists of electrons and ions, charged particles. In a plasma [but also in a normal conductor, i.e. the Earth’s iron core] the electrons are free to move with respect to the ions, while in normal matter they don’t have that freedom. That is precisely why there are no electric fields in a plasma [or in a good conductor]: the mobility of the electrons immediately shorts out any separation between charges [which drives the current]. To maintain a current, you need to continuously work on separating the charges again. That is done for you at your local power plant, and also by a magnetic field moving relative to the plasma or conductor. The plasma has an equal number of electrons and ions and is thus electrically neutral. I am counting on readers to think for themselves, and most seem to be quite able to [of course, there are always the odd exception, apparently].
In support of my claim, AAS published, ‘Screw Instability and the Blandford-Znajek Mechanism
(Li-Xin Li 2000)’ and the introduction began thusly:
“When a magnetic accretion disk surrounds a black hole, the magnetic field lines frozen in the disk drift toward the black hole as the disk plasma is slowly accreted onto the black hole. After the accreted plasma particles get into the black hole, the magnetic field lines that were frozen to the plasma are released and then thread the black hole’s horizon. So the black hole is magnetized and an approximately stationary and axisymmetric magnetic field is formed around it.”
Black holes are the creation of galaxies and possibly the creation of our universe. Magnetic forces that surround, interact, freeze, thread, and formulate around them, proves that a Universal Magnetic Theory, being isotropic and homogenous, far outweighs anything to a theory of an EU.
Another little theory I have is scientists need grants, and the govt’s that give them, need a reason to approve them. Much like the farmer that holds a carrot on a stick, in front of a mule, to make him trot to the market.
All one has to do to draw upon the same conclusion is remember the birth of Global Warming.
NASA was on the verge of losing funding and credibility, as public appeal was at an extreme low. Reagan wanted to focus more on strategic defense than space exploration. What happened. Al Gore invites James Hansen to give witness to AGW. As they say, the rest is history.
EU theory is much the same way. Most of the public can’t see magnetism and electricty is all around us. You start introducing misleading concepts like ‘electromagnetism’ into the public discord long enough, people start to believe it. Now in defense of scientists, the ‘scientific method’ encourages you to fact find and provide evidence of the truth.
So EU theorists’, go and find that truth, if such exists. Just do not create a division amongst yourselves, that has risen to the likes of C.C. That’s all I ask.
Zeke (19:41:06) :
This is not a vague predicition. If you read “Electric Sun Verified,” it is further elucidated and demonstrated with diagrams of labratory plasma discharge formations.
And with a nice photographs of the most renowned of the 56-fold symmetric megaliths at Stonehenge [yes the ancients knew about Z-pinches, apparently]:
http://www.holoscience.com/news.php?article=re6qxnz1
Please, folks. I’m embarrassed to be here in this company. Perhaps WUWT is degrading past its ‘sell-by-date’
Leif, do not despair. 2012 is just around the corner and a new enlightened age will begin. Or…we will rid ourselves of a few more questionable theories as the last worshiper finally walks back down the steps of the Mayan ruin, crestfallen that the great pumpkin failed again to re-appear. And Lucy will be waiting to once again cut to the chase and tell the starry eyed Charlie Brown all about the real world as she sits on her stool behind her psychiatry on a dime kiosk.
Doncha just love metaphor?
That is a brief reference to the work of Anthony Peratt at the end of the 1987A column.
Dr. Peratt has done extensive work comparing ancient petroglyphs to plasma discharge formations. These petroglyphs are found on every continent and bear exact resemblance to some of the most powerful electric plasma discharge forms.
I think Dr. Peratt is entitled to make these comparisons, as he is a leading plasma physicist for the Los Alamos National Laboratory. His website:
http://plasmascience.net/tpu/TheUniverse.html
PS. I am not affiliated with the EU or Thunderbolts team. Views expressed are my own.
David Alan,
“Probably the one piece of evidence that sort of puts the nail in the EU coffin for me is how magnetic and electric fields react to black holes. Gases, plasma, etc. get drawn in by swirling magnetic fields that intensify and amplify the closer they get to the black hole.”
The unfortunate problem for you is that there is no direct evidence of black holes. There are astronomical observations that the conventional Gravity Universe types could not explain so they bent some math and hypothesis and voila, Black Holes!!!
I go with KISS. We are much closer to experimental evidence in plasma physics on earth of conditions that can explain the astronomical observations without the Black Hole hypothesis.
Pamela Gray (20:32:58) :
Leif, do not despair. 2012 is just around the corner and a new enlightened age will begin.
No one in EU leadership gives any credence to the 2012/Mayan calender eschatology.
Leif Svalgaard,
“And with a nice photographs of the most renowned of the 56-fold symmetric megaliths at Stonehenge [yes the ancients knew about Z-pinches, apparently]:”
This is a strawman of high value.
If an alien spacecraft came by and somehow extracted a stream of material from a building in front of you and you then drew a picture or made a sculpture that reasonably showed a VISUAL representation of the occurance, would that mean you UNDERSTOOD how it was done or the physics involved??
Zeke (20:48:57) :
Anthony Peratt http://plasmascience.net/tpu/TheUniverse.html
gets a vote from me by stating categorically on his website:
“the electric field accelerating the charged particles derives from plasma moving across the earth’s dipole magnetic field lines”
As I said, electric currents are generated by plasma moving across magnetic field lines.
The petroglyphs do not move me. Perhaps aliens from outer space were teaching the ancients about the Electric Universe, just like the bible teaching us about expansion of the universe and the Quraan teaches us about the Flat Earth…
Zeke (21:00:34) :
No one in EU leadership gives any credence…
‘Leadership” ? Sounds like organized religion to me, or ideology.
kuhnkat (21:02:16) :
would that mean you UNDERSTOOD how it was done or the physics involved??
No, but it seems that the EU leadership would want you to believe that I did.
Leif Svalgaard,
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/solar_wind_speed.html
“The Sun occasionally launches billion-ton blasts of electrified gas, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), into space at millions of miles (kilometers) per hour. If a fast CME is plowing through slow solar wind, a shock builds up in front of the CME that accelerates the electrically charged solar wind particles.”
Electrified gas Leif??
Accelerates the electrically charged solar wind Leif???
“Since the solar wind is made up of electrically-charged particles, it responds to magnetic fields that permeate the solar atmosphere. Solar wind particles flow along invisible lines of magnetic force like cars on a highway. When the magnetic field lines bend straight out into space, as they do in “coronal hole” regions, the solar wind acts like cars on a drag strip, racing along at high speed. When the magnetic field lines bend sharply back to the solar surface, like the pattern of iron filings around a bar magnet, the solar wind acts like cars in city traffic and emerges relatively slowly. Scientists have known this for over thirty years and used it to give a crude estimate for the speed of the solar wind — either fast or slow.”
Look Leif, no one (well I am not) is asking you to buy into the extreme Hypothesis of the EU/PU. We would like some simple acknowledgement of REALITY!!!!
Maybe you could invite Dr. Joe Gurman, a solar researcher at NASA Goddard, here for a debate on these basic issues??
Possibly with a no-comment post so us “nutters” can not just create a food fight??
It will be interesting to wait and see whether Wal Thornhill’s predictions will be borne out by observation. Do you have any predictions to make concerning the ENA ribbon at the heliopause?
Leif Svalgaard,
“The petroglyphs do not move me. Perhaps aliens from outer space were teaching the ancients about the Electric Universe, just like the bible teaching us about expansion of the universe and the Quraan teaches us about the Flat Earth…”
How many times are you going to repeat this strawman???
Petroglyphs of what an ancient possibly OBSERVED has nothing to do with KNOWLEDGE of the physics involved. Implying that this is what is being claimed is dishonest.
Leif Svalgaard,
“As I said, electric currents are generated by plasma moving across magnetic field lines.”
And what maintains the state of the plasma long enough for it to generate electric current??? Why doesn’t it just disperse under the influence of the magnetic field lines and its internal forces???
Chicken or egg Leif???