This post is about Saturn’s aurora.
Electric Double Layers have been identified in Earth’s aurora. It’s reasonable to postulate that Saturn’s aurora has similarities to Earth’s aurora (as well as differences).
So-called “magnetic reconnection” has been claimed as also being associated with Earth’s aurora, but as demonstrated by the following Electric Double Layer papers and “magnetic reconnection” papers, the physical processes occuring during the events are the same, an Electric Double Layer process, and, just as important, are consistent with a full spectrum ELECTROMAGNETIC framework.
Concepts & terms that fail to address electric fields, magnetic fields, motions of “electrified particles”, electric currents, and the free electrons & ions physical configurations are inadequate analytical tools.
Failure to consider or observe & measure all aspects of the electromagnetic dynamic, including the electric field, the magnetic field, the motions and configurations of charged particles is negligent scientific conduct and won’t provide useful scientific data.
What passes today as so-called “magnetic reconnection” is actually the Electric Double Layer physical process, an electromagnetic process.
Thus, the key to understanding Saturn’s aurora is applying an electromagnetic framework, more specifically, the Electric Double Layer physical structure & process that has been studied in the laboratory for 50 years.
The Fundamental Force of Electromagnetism is known to be scale independent and fractal.
It is now apparent that when flowing currents of plasma, charged particles, collide with each other, in space, an Electric Double Layer is formed and electric currents are caused.
In study of solar system dynamics, it is essential to consider all electromagnetic dynamics and the processes that are known to be associated with an electromagnetic framework.
The Electric Double Layer is one of those processes:
What has been claimed as so-called “magnetic reconnection” is actually an Electric Double Layer.
The term & concept “magnetic reconnection” is an antiquated, pre-space age (1946), incomplete analytical tool, which did not consider electric fields or electric currents or the motions and configurations of charged particles. This failed analytical tool has been superceded by the full spectrum electromagnetic concept (if not yet term), Electric Double Layer.
Scientific papers presented:
Filamentary Structures in U-Shaped Double Layers, 2005
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-b ... 22c9c05019
Observations from the Polar and FAST satellites have revealed a host of intriguing features of the auroral accelerations processes in the upward current region (UCR). These features include: (i) large-amplitude parallel and perpendicular fluctuating as well as quasi-static electric fields in density cavities, (ii) fairly large-amplitude unipolar parallel electric fields like in a strong double layer (DL), (iii) variety of wave modes, (iv) counter-streaming of upward going ion beams and downward accelerated electrons, (v) horizontally corrugated bottom region of the potential structures (PS), in which electron and ion accelerations occur, (vi) filamentary ion beams in the corrugated PS, and (vii) both upward and downward moving narrow regions of parallel electric fields, inferred from the frequency drifts of the auroral kilometric radiations. Numerical simulations of U-shaped potential structures reveal that such observed features of the UCR are integral parts of dynamically evolving auroral U-shaped potential structures. Using a 2.5-D particle-in-cell (PIC) code we simulate a U-shaped broad potential structure (USBPS). The dynamical behavior revealed by the simulation includes: (i) recurring redistribution of the parallel potential drop (PPD) in the PS, (ii) its up and downward motion, (iii) formation of filaments in the potential and density structures, and (iv) creation of filamentary as well as broad extended density cavities. The formation of the filamentary structures is initiated by an ion-beam driven instability of an oblique ion mode trapped inside a broad cavity, when it becomes sufficiently thin in height. The filaments of the PS create filamentary electron beams, which generate waves at frequencies above the lower hybrid frequency, affecting plasma heating. This results in plasma evacuation and formation of a cavity extended in height. The waves associated with filamentary electron beams also evolve into electron holes. The transverse and parallel scale lengths of the regions with large E Parallel and E Perpendicular as well as their magnitudes are compared with satellite data.
Parallel electric fields in the upward current region of the aurora: Indirect and direct observations, published 2002 Physics of Plasma
http://www.space.irfu.se/exjobb/2003_er ... _ergun.pdf
In this article we present electric field, magnetic field, and charged particle observations from the
upward current region of the aurora focusing on the structure of electric fields at the boundary
between the auroral cavity and the ionosphere. Over 100 high-resolution measurements of the
auroral cavity that were taken by the Fast Auroral Snapshot ~FAST! satellite are included in this
study. The observations support earlier models of the auroral zone that held that quasi-static parallel
electric fields are the primary acceleration mechanism. In addition to the statistical study, several
examples of direct observations of the parallel electric fields at the low-altitude boundary of the
auroral cavity are put forth. These observations suggest that the parallel electric fields at the
boundary between the auroral cavity and the ionosphere are self-consistently supported as oblique
double layers.
Let's now compare the above Electric Double Layers papers with the following so-called "magnetic reconnection" scientific papers:
Magnetopause reconnection impact parameters from multiple spacecraft magnetic field measurements published 30 October 2009
http://www.leif.org/EOS/2009GL040228.pdf
Discrepancies between the measured components of E [electric field] and the corresponding components of v B [magnetic field] after a careful error analysis signify a nonideal electric field. We intend to show in a subsequent paper that the Cluster electric field and particle flow data for this event satisfy the criteria for a parallel electric field.
With the instantaneous coordinate system and the parallel electric field established, one can place particle moments, such as velocities, pressures, and temperatures, as well as magnetic and electric field measurements…
Sufficiently accurate ion and electron moments and electric field measurements within this coordinate system delineate ion and electron diffusion regions.
Recent in-situ observations of magnetic reconnection in near-Earth space, published 11 October 2008
http://www.leif.org/EOS/2008GL035297.pdf
The caption to a schematic of the so-called "magnetic reconnection" (Electric Double Layer) process:
Figure 1. “(bottom [schematic, page 2 of 7] ) : “Zoom-in on the region around the X-line, with the ion and electron diffusion regions indicated by the shading and the rectangular box, respectively. The quadrupolar Hall magnetic field is pointing in and out of the plane of the figure. The Hall electric field [perpendicular electric field] is shown by the red arrows, while the blue arrows mark the oppositely directed jets in the outflow regions. Note that entry and acceleration occur all the way along the current sheet. Figure courtesy of Marit Oieroset.”
To see the schematic in Figure 1. it is on the second page of seven of the PDF, please go to the link above of the paper:
You’ll see that the “Hall electric field [perpendicular electric field] is shown by the red arrows” surrounds the X- line at the heart of the “reconnection” structure”.
The “X” cross section discussed in these "magnetic reconnection" papers are where electric and magnetic fields cross, just as Hannes Alfven described in his empirical laboratory work on Electric Double Layers and, is central to the acceleration of the particles in both sets of papers, Electric Double Layers and "magnetic reconnection", respectively.
Here is the final paper in the series and, perhaps, most important paper (well worth taking the time to read & study):
Collisionless Magnetic Field Reconnection From First Principles: What It Can and Cannot Do
http://solarmuri.ssl.berkeley.edu/~wels ... onn_v4.pdf
The physics of reconnection depends on the electric field component out of the plane of Fig. 1 at the center of the figure, which is sometimes called the tangential electric field.
If it is zero [the Electric field], the two plasmas flow around each other into or out of the plane of the figure because there is no ExB/B2 flow in the plane of the figure in this central region.
On the other hand, if the tangential electric field is non-zero, the plasmas continue flowing towards each other into the central region of the figure and magnetic field reconnection occurs as discussed below.
So, no electric field — then, there is no “reconnection”.
Why has there been so much theoretical interest in making Eo [electric field] large?
Consider the current out of the plane in the central region of Fig.1, which is required by the curl of the magnetic field. A non-zero electric field results in a positive value of j·E in the central region of the figure and conversion of electromagnetic energy into particle energy [kinetic energy], which is what magnetic field reconnection is all about.
Where does the energy associated with this positive j·E originate?
To answer this question, an analogy will be made with the electric circuit of Fig. 2, consisting of a battery and a resistor. From freshman physics, the electromagnetic energy conversion rate is VI where V is the battery voltage and I is the current.
Ah, an “electric circuit”, much as Hannes Alfven theorized and demonstrated empirically in the laboratory.
If the EMF [electromotiveforce] (in the case of Fig.2, a battery) is constant, the energy conversion rate is constant.
And in an interesting comment on "moving magnetic field lines, the Mozer paper states:
This is just one example of problems arising from misinterpretation of the concept of moving magnetic field lines.
The Mozer paper returns explicitly to electromagnetism:
Where does the converted electromagnetic energy go?
It accelerates the plasma in the central region of Fig. 1 just as the resistor in Fig. 2 warms up due to energy conversion from the battery.
More language consistent with an “electric circuit” model just as Hannes Alfven advocated.
The flux, not the energy, of the ions emerging from the diffusion region increases with the increasing magnitude of the reconnection electric field, Eo.
And, yes, the free electrons & ions are accelerated in opposite directions just as in Electric Double Layers.
More discussion regarding electromagnetic energy:
What happens to the plasma that is accelerated by the electromagnetic energy conversion?
The author, F. S. Mozer, makes explicit reference to Maxwell’s equations:
…the magnitude of the magnetic field evolves as is required by Maxwell’s equations if magnetic field lines move with the ExB/B2 velocity.
And everybody knows that Maxwell’s equations describe a reciprical relationship between magnetic fields & electric fields. In other words, you can’t have magnetic fields without the presence of the Coulomb attraction, the attraction between opposite charges due to Coulomb force, in a plasma where there is the presence of free electrons & ions.
Further from the Mozer paper:
This violation of Maxwell’s equations means that there must be a parallel electric field in the central region such that the magnetic field evolution in this region cannot be obtained by any means other than solving Maxwell’s equations.
There’s that pesky “parallel electric field”, right at the heart of the so-called “magnetic reconnection”, just as "parallel electric field" is central to the Electric Double Layer, peer-reviewed scientific papers presented above.
Further from the F. S. Mozer paper:
The discussion thus far has left many unanswered questions. For example:
• How do the ions and electrons move to create the current, j?
• How are the ions accelerated to the Alfven speed?
• How is the parallel electric field in the central region generated?
These questions will all be discussed through application of the Generalized Ohm’s Law as derived from the two-fluid equations of motion for a unit volume of plasma, which are (Spitzer, 1956):
The author [F. S. Mozer] thanks C.-G. Falthammar for many helpful discussions over many years, and his Berkeley colleagues for many helpful comments. This work was supported by NASA Grants NNG05GC72G and NNG05GL27G.
As many Electric Universe advocates know C.-G. Falthammar is a fellow plasma physicist much in agreement with Hannes Alfven's work and conclusions. Also note that this paper was supported by NASA grants -- you can rest assured NASA knows of this paper and it's support for an electromagnetic framework of analysis & interpretation of plasma solar system dynamics.
Also, it should be noted that F.S. Mozer was also one of the authors of the second Double Layer paper presented above.
It's evident that the Electric Double Layer perspective is alive and well and NASA knows about it.
The Thunderbolts Picture of the Day, The Interconnected Sun Part One, Aug 12, 2010, The Sun/Earth Connection, dovetails very nicely with this line of scientific inquiry:
http://thunderbolts.info/tpod/2010/arch10/100812sun.htm
I can't emphasize enough the power of this series of scientific papers to establish the full spectrum electromagnetic framework for empirical observation & measuement and analysis & interpretation of the scientific data.
Hannes Alfven has been spectacularly vindicated by this line of in situ scientific inquiry: The Electric Double Layer is a basic foundation of space plasma physics.