D_Archer wrote:Hi Michael,
Yes they produced a full sphere that looks like the Sun, even yellowish hue, i saw it ( i think in video form even) from the latest EU conference.
I never saw something that looked like the corona, but they did show concentric double layers forming.
Regards,
Daniel
I don't believe that I could fully explain solar satellite imagery without discussing concentric double layers in the solar atmosphere. That double layering process explains the temperature/density layering observed between the hot corona and the cooler chromosphere, the chromosphere and the cooler, more dense photosphere, and potentially other double layers that might be located underneath of the glowing white photosphere. That concentric double layer observation is a very important observation IMO, and a feather in the cap of EU solar models. I'd be curious to see if they can duplicate that double layering effect around a cathode as well.
It's quite literally impossible for me to look at satellite images of the sun, and not see the electrical discharge processes and current flow processes involved in the image. Double layers emit a glow mode emission pattern which are observed in white light and helium ion emissions, and in the corona, at different temperatures and distances which are consistent with a multiple double layering process with the double layers becoming cooler as they approach the electrode.
The heat source of the outer layering system is the current that is traveling through the double layers, and heat from the coronal loop/discharge loops all along the surface of the electrode.
The iron ion filters of SDO (94A, 131A, 171A, etc pickup the high temperature coronal loops at various high temperatures and energy states. The Helium ion filter (305A) picks up emissions from a mostly helium chromosphere.
If we look at the umbra of a sunspot, it suggests that the bright part (top) of the photopshere is about 500-700km thick, and there is another, darker layer that is not emitting as much white light which is beneath that layer.
I think it would be extremely helpful to compare real time helioviewer solar images and movies to images made in the lab.
I'm also very curious to see what occurs in the emission patterns and plasma formation patterns by adding a magnetic field inside the electrode, and when switching the polarity of the electrode.
I think by comparing these various current flow patterns in laboratory experiments with the actual solar images, we can see which model(s) fits the in situ measurements the best. As it stands now, I'm inclined to trust Birkeland's experience since he's the only one who's ever tried all the various configuration options, including different textured electrodes, magnetic field configurations and polarity options.
I think the key difference will be in the corona process in all probability. I'd expect them both to produce concentric double layers around the electrode, but the current (high speed electron) flow patterns into/away from the electrode will probably look a bit different in each configuration.
I think only by a totally exhaustive study of the various configurations could we be sure we're on the right track.
One thing that I find very attractive about the cathode electrode configuration is that it produces cathode beams which are consistent with 'strahl' electron flow from the sun, and produces a full sphere, corona that is stable and reasonably consistent around the whole sphere.
If I recall correctly, the addition of the magnetic field inside the electrode made significantly different current flow patterns near the poles and in the atmosphere around the electrode. The images I see from his work suggest that an anode globe generates concentrated beams around the poles, whereas a cathode globe tends to concentrate surface to surface electrical discharges into two distinct bands in both hemispheres, above and below the equator. These are the kinds of tests that must be done IMO to decide which model is the best fit to SDO and other solar images.
FYI, one of the *really* cool (reasonably newer) features of Helioviewer is it's ability to generate running difference images in various wavelengths. If you use an iron ion wavelengths (preferably 131A/171A) and create a "running difference" image, with a spacing of around 25 minutes between images, you'll notice *very* consistent features that rotate pretty evenly over time. These types of images tend to show where the discharges along the surface of the electrode are concentrated. They certainly suggest a pattern of a relatively 'rigid/solid" surface electrode sits one or more double layers underneath of the surface of the photosphere.
The discharging loops also leave their heat and magnetic field signatures on the surface of the photosphere in 1600A and magnetogram images, but only the largest of the loops are tall enough to rise though that surface. Most of the smaller discharge loops are concentrated near the electrode. The consistency of discharge concentrations suggest that the electrode is either a solid surface, or a cooler, more dense layer of plasma IMO.
I would have to say that the only way to end the debates between the standard solar model and even various EU/PC models is to run a full series of expensive tests in the lab.
It's really a pity IMO that the mainstream wastes so much money on dark matter research when only a 1/4 of that budget devoted to solar physics research would revolutionize our way of looking at stars and looking at the universe.