Collisionless Plasma in Space Physics
He said “no new physics to investigate”. Then why, as Michael Gmirkin has observed in the thread “In Slumber, Sun Reveals Effects on Earth's Climate!”, hasn’t potential connections between the Earth’s “jet stream migrations”, and maybe even its Plasma Bands, i.e. equatorial as well as polar aurora dynamics, been investigated in relation to Birkeland’s findings?To be mentioned:
Terella Birkeland: (1899)
Planeterrella: Lilensten (2006)
Historically important and beautiful pedagogical tool (but no new physics to investigate):
I then looked up “Planeterrella” and came across this by Lillisten et al:
The Planeterrella, a pedagogic experiment in planetology and plasma physics
At any rate, the research lead to what appears to be the only modern terrella in existence by way of a personal pages for Laboratoire de Planetologie GrenobleWe present here a plasma physics experiment which makes it possible to simulate, in a naive yet useful way, the formation of polar lights. It involves shooting electrons at a magnetized sphere placed in a vacuum chamber. This experiment, inspired by K. Birkeland’s Terrella, built at the turn of 19th century, allows the visualization of very many geophysical and astrophysical situations. Although delicate, it is feasible at undergraduate level.
Enjoy!
Artist rendering of the Planeterrella
Image 1
Le bruissonannant
Image 3
The Rings of Saturn
Aurora
Unusual single polar aroura?
Two body polar interaction?
Atmosphere
Interesting Glow Phenomena
Two body Interaction with major equatorial glow
Google Search Page for image results.
This needs to be a primary teaching tool. Viv'la France!