Lightning, Sticky Tape, and Black Hole Observations - Part 1

[MGmirkin]

(Lightning, Sticky Tape, and Black Hole Observations - Part 1; Jan 30, 2009)

There is an endless supply of astronomical and astrophysical reports with “surprising” findings. However, the observations fit within the Electric Universe paradigm.

A recent report in October 2008 concerns the close correlation of X-ray and optical light emissions from two black hole candidates: GX 339-4 and Swift J1753.5-0127. Each system is theorized to have a black hole in orbit around a normal star. This report describes how these systems were observed in X-ray and optical light at the same time. The surprise was that the optical light and X-ray emissions were closely synchronized to each other and obviously coupled to a common physical cause.

This observation completely contradicts current theory which predicts that X-ray and optical emissions result from entirely different mechanisms in these black hole binaries. What we’ll show below is that the synchronized X-ray and optical emissions, both in their nature and timing, correspond very well to what we now know about terrestrial lightning as well as plasma arcs at even smaller scales.

[Read more] ...

[MGmirkin]

Reminds me handily of the work of CER Bruce...

(Electrical Discharge Theory)
http://www.catastrophism.com/texts/bruce/index.htm

(Cosmic Thunderstorms)
http://www.catastrophism.com/texts/bruce/cosmic.htm

(Successful Predictions of the Electrical Discharge Theory of Cosmic Atmospheric Phenomena and Universal Evolution)
http://www.catastrophism.com/texts/bruce/era.htm

(The role of electrical discharges in astrophysical phenomena)
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1975Obs....95..204B

Regards,
~Michael Gmirkin

[StevenJay]

"In the Electric Universe, 99% of the Universe is plasma: observable, measurable plasma. This is a state of matter we can replicate in a lab and study. We see it every day in the lightning and the aurora of our terrestrial skies and in the static electricity when we take off our sweaters. The Electric Universe paradigm speaks of light, of “coronae,” “glow mode,” “sparks,” “lightning,” and so forth. The two paradigms did not set out with these dark and light metaphors a priori. The metaphors evolved after the fact. However, it is interesting how the two metaphorical systems evolved so differently."

Should any of that really come as a surprise in a realm of extreme contrast and opposites? Why should the pursuit of knowledge follow a different form than any other facet of human endeavor? I see the metaphoric paths of light and dark spiraling around each other like plasma filaments or a DNA helix and, from where I sit, all is well. . . in the garden.

"We choose the opportunity to know. We choose the light."

Yes, indeed! Here, here and amen, Thomas!

[Lloyd]

* By the way, the dark in this case is an illusion. So only the "light" is real.
* Now I want to comment on today's TPOD, i.e. Part 2.
* It says removing tape from something in a partial vacuum produces tiny electrical discharges or arcs.
* I suppose the same sorts of arcs are produced at normal air pressure, but are still tinier, because the air shorts them out.
* Does anyone know where to find the conductive properties of N2, O2, CO2, H2O, CO, etc? I imagine H2O is the most conductive. There's also some dust in the air, as well as ions, especially near in and around clouds.
* Since a recent TPOD suggests that ions surround clouds for several miles around, I suppose they also reach down to the ground below clouds. The maximum cloud height is said to be 15,000 meters, which is 9.3 miles.

[tpwilson]

Hi Lloyd

You asked a couple questions regarding the sticky tape work reported in the paper.

- I believe the chamber was evacuated not so much to optimize the electrical conductivity of the triboluminescence, but rather to enhance the X-ray transmission. A few meters of air will absorb X-rays,so I imagine they created a vacuum to remove air as a variable in their X-ray measurements.
- As far as conductivity of gases goes, I can't find anything on any particular gas. Un-ionized gases are pretty good dielectrics and do not conduct well. However, ionization in the gas due to sufficient electric field strength (reaching a "breakdown" value causing an arc), bombardment of high energy particles, or heat will create a conductive plasma which is a pretty good conductor. For example, partly ionized Xenon above about 30,000K in temperature has a conductivity on the order of 10^5 (ohms*m)^-1. Copper (second only to silver as a conductor) is on the order of 10^7 (ohms*m)^-1. I can't find other plasma conductivity values but I bet that would be something you could find in Peratt's book, which I do not possess unfortunately.
Tom

[MGmirkin]

Wouldn't the "atmosphere" in a non-evacuated chamber act as an insulator, reducing the level of discharging slightly? Granted, if the electric fields generated were big enough, it would probably be a moot point... So perhaps it was simply to make sure the x-rays were detectable.

~Michael Gmirkin

[tpwilson]

Hi Michael

I haven't looked into how electrical breakdown of a gas varies with its pressure, but it's possible that arc events are optimized with lower gas pressure. We'd have to go look it up. If so, then the chamber evacuation may have encouraged better electrical activity as well as enhancing X-ray measurement.

Tom