From NASA Science News January 15, 2010: Last year, when NASA’s IBEX (Interstellar Boundary Explorer) spacecraft discovered a giant ribbon at the edge of the solar system, researchers were mystified. They called it a “shocking result” and puzzled over its origin.
Now the mystery may have been solved.
“We believe the ribbon is a reflection,” says Jacob Heerikhuisen, a NASA Heliophysics Guest Investigator from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. “It is where solar wind particles heading out into interstellar space are reflected back into the solar system by a galactic magnetic field.”
Heerikhuisen is the lead author of a paper reporting the results in the Jan. 10th edition of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
“This is an important finding,” says Arik Posner, IBEX program scientist at NASA Headquarters. “Interstellar space just beyond the edge of the solar system is mostly unexplored territory. Now we know, there could be a strong, well-organized magnetic field sitting right on our doorstep.”
The IBEX data fit in nicely with recent results from Voyager. Voyager 1 and 2 are near the edge of the solar system and they also have sensed strong* magnetism nearby. Voyager measurements are relatively local to the spacecraft, however. IBEX is filling in the “big picture.” The ribbon it sees is vast and stretches almost all the way across the sky, suggesting that the magnetic field behind it must be equally vast.
Although maps of the ribbon (see below) seem to show a luminous body, the ribbon emits no light. Instead, it makes itself known via particles called “energetic neutral atoms” (ENAs)–mainly garden-variety hydrogen atoms. The ribbon emits these particles, which are picked up by IBEX in Earth orbit.
Above: A comparison of IBEX observations (left) with a 3D magnetic reflection model (right). More images: data, model.
The reflection process posited by Heerikhuisen et al. is a bit complicated, involving multiple “charge exchange” reactions between protons and hydrogen atoms. The upshot, however, is simple. Particles from the solar wind that escape the solar system are met ~100 astronomical units (~15 billion kilometers) away by an interstellar magnetic field. Magnetic forces intercept the escaping particles and sling them right back where they came from.
“If this mechanism is correct–and not everyone agrees–then the shape of the ribbon is telling us a lot about the orientation of the magnetic field in our corner of the Milky Way galaxy,” notes Heerikhuisen.
And upon this field, the future may hinge.
The solar system is passing through a region of the Milky Way filled with cosmic rays and interstellar clouds. The magnetic field of our own sun, inflated by the solar wind into a bubble called the “heliosphere,” substantially protects us from these things. However, the bubble itself is vulnerable to external fields. A strong magnetic field just outside the solar system could press against the heliosphere and interact with it in unknown ways. Will this strengthen our natural shielding—or weaken it? No one can say.
Right: An artist’s concept of interstellar clouds in the galactic neighborhood of the sun. [more]
“IBEX will monitor the ribbon closely in the months and years ahead,” says Posner. “We could see the shape of the ribbon change—and that would show us how we are interacting with the galaxy beyond.”
It seems we can learn a lot by looking in the mirror. Stay tuned to Science@NASA for updates.
h/t to Leif Svalgaard
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J.Hansford (18:36:56) :
“I find it strange that magnetic fields could exist without an electric current.
… any thoughts.”
Magnetic fields can become detatched from their generating source. The main example is when a star collapses into a black whole. As the star collapses it passes through white dwarf and neutron star phases where its magnetic field builds up to very high levels. But, what happens once the event horizon of the black hole forms?
Because there cannot be any communication from within the event horizon, the magnetic field lines that are outside, are effectively cut off from their source. No longer anchored in place, they fly off by their own mutual repulsion.
Perhaps the magnetic field lines in this article have originated from a black hole in just this way, growing increasingly weaker as they have moved further apart.
Vincent (03:07:58) :
All nonsense. Magnetic field lines DO NOT EXIST, they are only product of our imagination, NOT reality. Black holes and event horizons may prove to be same.
I find it facinating… Our two intrepid voyagers spacecraft sailing out into deep space. The IBEX satellite studying our solar system’s very boundery with the galaxy…. Scientists staggering around “shocked” by what they are seeing….
For the geeks among us, this is heady stuff!!!!
vukcevic (00:30:08) :
Leif Svalgaard (16:12:05) :
…..The Caltec image shows [a poor rendition]…..
I wonder if their rendition may be more up to date than some 20-30 years old more artistic ones. Thanks for your links, already familiar with. The rest of your comments are somewhat misleading.
– Once particles (protons & electrons) leave the sun, they travel in strait line not along a spiral, and wrapping is a relative relationship to the point of origin, but has no impact on further trajectory of the particles.
– Current sheet may be wrapped around many times, but ‘wraps’ are spaced along the path, and further away you are from the sun, more spared out they are, due to increased velocity.
– Only one portion of the apparent ‘spiral’ will hit the nose of the heliosphere at any time.
Yes, I was surprised to see Leif invoking the spiral as a refutation of your idea that the ribbon might be the HCS bumping into the boundary of the Heliosphere and interstellar medium too.
A week or so ago, he went to some length to explain that the spiral was an illusion and all the particles leaving the sun traveled in straight lines.
It’s an apocalyse. The Bashful Ballerina is lifting her veil and showing of her underskirts. Maybe she’s really a can-can dancer! WooHoo!
Stubborness it is a magnetic field “reconnection” which happens inside the brains of some guys. It inmobilizes for ever their thinking.
It is my understanding that you can’t have a magnetic field without moving charges.
OTOH it all depends on your frame of reference. A point charge in a frame that is stationary with respect to the charge will exhibit what we call an electrostatic field. If the frame is moving (or the particle with respect to the frame) you get what we refer to as a magnetic field.
In other words magnetic fields and electrostatic field are duals.
There is more (like the electrostatic field attracts or repels a charge while a magnetic field exerts a force on a moving charge that is at right angles to the field often referred to as a cross product to indicate its vector nature).
As you can see thinking about all this will tie your mind in knots.
In any case what Lief says about a magnetic field being unable to decay is non-sense. All he can mean by that is that with respect to the frame the magnetic field is measured in the charges can’t stop moving.
Magnetic fields have no independent existence without moving charges. If there is a magnetic field there are charges moving in the magnetometer frame of reference.
BTW Feynman in The Feynman Lectures on Physics (3 Volume Set) (Set v) explains it very well.
Also note. Feynman says the study of magnetism (and correspondingly inductance) is one of the most difficult parts of simple physics.
vukcevic,
“Vincent (03:07:58) :
All nonsense. Magnetic field lines DO NOT EXIST, they are only product of our imagination, NOT reality. Black holes and event horizons may prove to be same.”
Ok, let me try again. According to CONSENSUS, (which you dispute) magnetic field lines exist, but when a star collapses into a black hole (the existence of which you also dispute), the magnetic field becomes detatched and flies apart. Does this version meet your approval, or should I add even more caveats?
vukcevic (00:30:08) :
One begins to wonder if our species Homo Sapiens Sapiens is misnamed…
– Once particles (protons & electrons) leave the sun, they travel in strait line not along a spiral
The Heliospheric Current, HC, is not a coherent stream of particles coming straight from the Sun, but is generated locally in the HCS by ambient solar wind particles gyrating around magnetic field lines [and field lines do exist in plasmas identified by the charges stuck on them], so the HC’s shape is the spiral. Even your own Figure shows the shape [although poorly, but you can see it better here http://www.leif.org/research/HCS2.png ]
– Current sheet may be wrapped around many times, but ‘wraps’ are spaced along the path, and further away you are from the sun, more spared out they are, due to increased velocity.
Apart from the fact that the increase in speed is very small, so that the spacing is almost constant [~2 AU] you are missing the point, namely that at a given point on the Heliopause, e.g. on the ribbon, the HCS moves North-South typically over 60 degrees [the last few years] and at times [solar max] 180 degrees every 1 to 2 weeks. So the shape of the intersection of the HCS with the Heliopause changes wildly all the time due to solar rotation while the ribbon does not.
– You failed to explain how ribbon happens to be such a well focused form if the heliosphere is impacted by CRs from many directions.
The ribbon and the HCS are not influenced by CRs so what is there to explain.
– In addition you have not offered any view, however speculative, how such well formed ribbon shape could be formed and apparently acquire shape which appear to be same as the outer edge of the HCS.
Since the outer edge of the HCS change all the time and the ribbon does not there is nothing to speculative about.
I think you basic error is that you think the warps stay fixed in space so that you can draw a straight line from the Sun all the way out to the Heliopause and that the shape of the HC’s intersection with the Heliopause is the same as near the Earth [for instance]. It is not. Even your own Figure could show this if interpreted correctly. Look at the HCS on the right. Now pick a fixed point on the green oval, for example on the left where the blue sheet intersects the orbit. This marks a sector boundary; to the left of that point the polarity is in one direction and to the right the polarity is in the other direction. The sector boundary sweeps past the [almost] stationary observer near the Earth. In other words the sheet moves in longitude. In fact a new boundary sweeps by every 1-2 weeks. If the ribbon were where the HCS ‘touches’ the Heliopause the ribbon would also sweep across the sky and cover a complete sweep in 25 days, and it does not.
I fear that your misconception about this is so vast that even the above explanation does not penetrate the fog. You might surprise me by telling us that you understand what I am saying. It is really not complicated [although it at times seems that the human mind has a hard time understanding simple things – this was also evident 37 years ago when we were trying to explain the existence and shape of the HCS to even professional in the field]
photon without a Higgs (00:46:21) :
Leif Svalgaard (23:50:55) :
Really?
Yes, indeed.
J.Hansford (00:51:03) :
…. and that where the confusion arises is due to the inability to create the plasma conditions of deep intergalactic space within the laboratory….? Yes?
Partly, but physicists are not confused about this. Only misinformed and learning-resistant lay persons.
J.Hansford (03:46:42) :
Scientists staggering around “shocked” by what they are seeing….
This is just the usual PR-hype.
tallbloke (05:23:06) :
Yes, I was surprised to see Leif invoking the spiral as a refutation of your idea that the ribbon might be the HCS bumping into the boundary of the Heliosphere and interstellar medium too.
See reply to Vuk.
BTW a nice series of lectures by Feynman on Quantum Electro Dynamics:
http://vega.org.uk/video/programme/48
Any one with high school physics should be able to get the essence of it. He is not real heavy on the math.
So what about Electromagnetic (EM) Waves?
Oscillating charges.
But static fields require moving charges.
I see Leif has cleared up in a later comment some of the confusion caused by an earlier comment.
vukcevic (00:30:08) :
Thanks for your links, already familiar with.
and this is the most amazing thing. It is as if I show you a picture of a cube and explain ‘this is a cube’ and you answer “yes I’m familiar with the pictures of that sphere:.
The rest of your comments are somewhat misleading.
Misleading? In this kind of exchange where the word is used figuratively, it implies deliberate deceit. Is that what you are suggesting?
vukcevic (00:30:08) :
Leif Svalgaard (16:12:05) :
…..The Caltec image shows [a poor rendition]…..
..- In addition you have not offered any view, however speculative, how such well formed ribbon shape could be formed and apparently acquire shape which appear to be same as the outer edge of the HCS.
Of course for time being my observations as many others are purely speculative, but at least I offer a plausible solution to a puzzle, without contradicting any laws of physics or being in conflict with the known properties of the heliosphere or the surrounding space.
http://www.vukcevic.talktalk.net/LFC3.htm
~~
Questions and more questions.
Why are we only seeing one ribbon and not the spatial distribution of the ISMF. (interstellar magnetic field)
Is the ribbon just an artifact created by the heliospheres impact leaving an imprint? That interaction creating ah..
So, we have planetary magnetospheres embedded in the IMF and we have the IMF embedded in the ISMF.
Double layers.
How about a triple layer, ISMF sends a shockwave through the system.
tallbloke (05:23:06) :
It’s an apocalyse. The Bashful Ballerina is lifting her veil and showing of her underskirts. Maybe she’s really a can-can dancer! WooHoo!
~~
The can-can dancer? Does a 3 step 180 with a jump and lands her right foot in your mouth knocking out your front teeth. The bruise she gets on landing was well worth the effort.
phlogiston (17:13:34) :
In the 22nd century, textbooks of science will commence any discussion of the phenomenon of pseudo-science with the monumental fiasco of the late 20th century theory of CO2 AGW
Dont you think string-theory will be mentioned too ?
http://www.thetroublewithphysics.com/
“Superstring theory forms a vast and impressive mathematical framework and makes enormous claims. But where is the experimental evidence? What if your intuition tells you that this elaborate construction, shrouded by the sweet vagueness of quantum mechanics, cannot represent the complete truth? Lee Smolin is keeping his eyes open, asks sharp questions, and offers his delightful insights as a critical insider.”
–Gerard ‘t Hooft, Nobel Laureate, University of Utrecht
J.Hansford (00:51:03) :
So even if black holes don’t exist people who are replying to me are missing my point.
vukcevic (00:30:08) :
The rest of your comments are somewhat misleading.
Misleading? When used figuratively [as here], this word implies deliberate deceit. Is that what you are suggesting? [you use that word often, BTW].
M. Simon (07:04:56) :
Thank you for the link to the Feynman videos!
Question: “What causes magnetic fields in space?”
Answer: “The moving plasma, i.e., charged particles flows, are currents that produce self-magnetic fields, however weak.” — Dr. Anthony L. Peratt, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Further:
A quote from a university lecture on magnetic fields:
“In conclusion, all magnetic fields encountered in nature are generated by circulating currents. There is no fundamental difference between the fields generated by permanent magnets and those generated by currents flowing around conventional electric circuits. In the former, case the currents which generate the fields circulate on the atomic scale, whereas, in the latter case, the currents circulate on a macroscopic scale (i.e., the scale of the circuit).” — Richard Fitzpatrick, Professor of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/316/lectures/node77.html
Perhaps the source of magnetic fields isn’t a mystery after all.
James F. Evans (07:53:52) :
“In conclusion, all magnetic fields encountered in nature are generated by circulating currents.”
Perhaps the source of magnetic fields isn’t a mystery after all.
What generates the current?
And if you accept the Biermann battery mechanism there is no mystery.
Interesting. I wonder if this has any implications for the Pioneer Anomaly.
As I read I occassionaly get a picture in my mind, it is Archie and Edith and the kids; all in the family:-) You people are great!
Leif Svalgaard (07:02:56)
“You might surprise me by telling us that you understand what I am saying. It is really not complicated [although it at times seems that the human mind has a hard time understanding simple things – this was also evident 37 years ago when we were trying to explain the existence and shape of the HCS to even professional in the field]”
Spiralling wrapping of charged particles ‘sprayed’ by the Sun is only apparent to a helio-centric observer, to a helio-stationary or helio-orbital observer it is even more complex. To an observer not locked to a helio-central/ -static/ -orbital location but moving in a line perpendicular to the curvature of the nose of heliosphere as the IBEX probe is, the charged particles will be always coming from the same direction, i.e. the Sun. If that observer has a spatial angle view of space in the direction of its trajectory and these particles are impacting an ‘invisible wall’, in this case galactic magnetic field, than the observer will see outline of the impact as seen by the Ibex and depicted in the illustration. Undulation in the ‘space ribbon’ appear to be corresponding to the undulation perceivable in HCS.
http://www.vukcevic.talktalk.net/LFC3.htm
If you are suggesting that galactic magnetic field spatial intensity is distributed in the shape of the ‘space ribbon’ than the rest of the astronomy science, regarding the make up of Galaxy has to be rewritten.
On the other hand there is a remote possibility (promoted by EU) that there is an electric current flow, circling the outer limits (or just outside) of the heliosphere, I am open minded but not convinced yet.
In order to show how open minded I am, I will suggest an even less palatable possibility. During last year or so since this ribbon was discovered, Jupiter and Saturn magnetospheres were displaced between 130 and current say 150 degrees and importantly one is below and the other above solar equatorial plane. These are huge deflecting obstacles to the propagation of solar wind and certainly do cause considerable deflection. If the solar wind particles fail to go back, but continue in the newly acquired direction, than it would explain the shape of the ‘space ribbon’ due to certain increase of particles density. But this would be only one step removed from possibility of ‘magnetospheric feedback’ but that would not do, or would it?
http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/Solar?date=0&utc=2069%2F07%2F20+20%3A17%3A43&jd=2476948.34564&img=-k1&sys=-Sf&eyes=0&imgsize=600&orb=-b2&lat=50&ns=North&lon=7%B0&ew=East&hlat=90%B0&hns=North&hlon=0%B0&elements=
Karl Maki (08:16:51) :
Interesting. I wonder if this has any implications for the Pioneer Anomaly.
I don’t think so as the Anomaly shows up even in the inner solar system and the ribbon is at the outer reaches.
Vincent (06:52:43) :
“According to CONSENSUS, (which you dispute) magnetic field lines exist.”
First of all magnetic field is three-dimensional while line is a two-dimensional entity, so if something like that existed than it would be ‘magnetic shells’ not lines. Magnetic field lines are only an educational tool, to help understand distribution of the field intensity, due to its inseparable bipolarity . Electrostatic or gravitational field lines are not normally drawn, since it is assumed that field intensity has spherical distribution. Only if two charges are in close proximity than some lines may be drawn. Magnetic line does not exist any more than an isobar on a weather chart or isohypse on a mountain side of a field map.
Perhaps the biggest misnomer there is; the lines do not exist, they are but a simple means to indicate to human minds ‘fields’ (surfaces delineating volumes or lines delineating areas) of equal amplitude or strength; an invented concept or tool of/for human thought.
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