Scientists Measure Sun's Smallest Visibile Magnetic Fields

In article , Ron
writes
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/fi...5103&rsbci=0&f
ti=111&ti=0&sc=400

SCIENTISTS MEASURE SUN'S SMALLEST VISIBLE MAGNETIC FIELDS
Lockheed Martin Press Release
June 1, 2004

Denver, CO. -- Solar physicists from Lockheed Martin [NYSE:
LMT], and The Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics of the University
of
Oslo have analyzed the highest resolution images ever taken near the
solar disk center and found surprising new small-scale magnetic field
structures. Their results, which were reported yesterday at the
American
Astronomical Society's meeting in Denver, address long-standing issues
on
the formation and decay of sunspots and the forecasting of magnetic
activity such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Such
activity
influences the upper atmosphere and magnetosphere of Earth and can
damage
satellites in orbit.

"These new images and magnetic field measurements show that the Sun
can
still surprise us when we look at things 100 km (62 mile) in size,"
said
Dr. Tom Berger, principal investigator on the study, and solar
physicist
at the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Lab (LMSAL) at the
company's Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, Calif. "Using the
Swedish one-meter Solar Telescope (SST) on the island of La Palma,
Spain,
we have discovered new ways in which the smallest 'elements' of the
Sun's
magnetic field arrange themselves in the turbulent flowfields of the
Sun's surface.

The Sun undergoes an 11-year cycle in which its magnetic flux, as seen
most prominently in the form of dark sunspots, peaks and wanes.
Sunspots
demarcate highly magnetic 'active regions' in the solar atmosphere
that
unleash flares and coronal mass ejections. When coronal mass
ejections
are directed toward Earth they can damage satellites in orbit, expose
high flying airplanes to radiation, and even adversely effect power
stations on the ground. Scientists still do not understand how active
regions are formed, why they vary with a roughly 11-year period, or
how
and when flares and mass ejections occur.

In addition to the large and obvious sunspots, active regions contain
a
myriad of smaller magnetic structures surrounding the sunspots. These
smaller structures are much more dynamic than sunspots, constantly
emerging, moving, and rearranging due to their interactions with the
convective flowfield. This constant motion in the small-scale 'plage'
fields around sunspots builds up magnetic 'tension' in the larger
scale
magnetic fields, like a spring winding tighter and tighter. The
magnetic
'spring' eventually snaps causing 'magnetic reconnection' and
subsequent
flares and/or mass ejections.

Scientists are uncertain of the origin of the small-scale magnetic
structures on the Sun. Some of the structure clearly originates from
sunspots as they decay away over their lifetime. But small-scale
structure is found all over the Sun, often far from sunspots in
regions
of 'quiet Sun.' Sunspots are believed to be formed by a 'global-scale
dynamo' system located about 30% of the way down to the Sun's center,
at
the bottom of the 'convection zone.' However recent observational and
theoretical evidence suggests that most of the small-scale magnetic
flux
in the quiet Sun may be generated by a 'local dynamo' mechanism seated
in
the upper convection zone and photosphere. Determining where and how
magnetic fields are generated on the Sun, and by inference on other
stars
as well, is a key goal of astrophysics.

The images used in this study (that can be accessed at the URL below)
reveal small-scale magnetic fields in the area of a decaying active
region. By studying the structure and motion of these small-scale
fields,
scientists hope to be able to differentiate between magnetic
structures
generated from sunspot decay and those perhaps generated by a local
dynamo process.

When these images were first seen, Dr. Berger and the team were
surprised
to find a variety of magnetic formations that had not previously been
seen on the Sun. Earlier studies, based on images from smaller
telescopes, had led scientists to believe that small-scale magnetic
structure always took the form of small discrete 'flux tubes,' or
individual blobs of magnetic field. However the new images show
surprising 'ribbon' and 'flower' structures that indicate much more
complex interactions of the small-scale magnetic field with the
granule
flowfield.

In addition to the images, the new data includes the highest
resolution
magnetogram, or direct measurement of the density of magnetic fields
on
the Sun, ever taken. By combining the images and the magnetogram, Dr.
Berger and the team are measuring the magnetic content of these new
structures for the first time. Further studies of magnetic flux in
quiet
Sun regions will be used to compare with the images shown here in an
effort to understand the origin and fate of small-scale magnetic flux
on
the Sun.

Preliminary analyses of the data are in a paper submitted for
peer-review
to the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics .The authors are Dr. Tom
Berger
and Dr. Alan Title of Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Lab; Dr.
Luc
Rouppe van der Voort, Dr. Mats Carlsson, Dr. Viggo Hansteen, Astrid
Fossum, and Elin Marthinussen of The Institute for Theoretical
Astrophysics, University of Oslo; and Dr. Göran Scharmer and Dr. Mats
Löfdahl of The Institute for Solar Physics of the Royal Swedish
Academy
of Sciences, Stockholm. Future studies will examine movies of these
small-scale structures to determine their dynamical interactions with
granules.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology
systems,
products and services. The corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8
billion.

Contact:

Buddy Nelson, (510) 797-0349; e-mail,

NOTE TO EDITORS: Low- and high-resolution JPEG image files of the
discovery are available at the following URL:
http://www.lmsal.com/Press/SPD2004/

There are many problems with the present 'generally accepted' magnetic
theories about the Sun. Magnetic lines are a concept of Faraday to
indicate the field strength and direction of magnetic fields. They are
not actual physical entities like rubber bands and they cannot stretch
and break with explosive force. A far better explanation of solar
characteristics is given in the book described in the following review
published in The Observatory, 2000 October, Vol. 120, No. 1158:

"The Electric Universe, by L. Körtvelyéssy (EFO, Budapest), 1998. Pp.
704, 24 x 17 cm. (hardbound; ISBN 9 638 24319 8).

One of the most perplexing problems of the Sun is how the observed
extensive magnetic fields form. An authoritative book states that a
question remaining open is "The nature, or even existence, of the solar
dynamo to generate the magnetic fields that give rise to solar
activity."(1).

The answer is clearly stated in The Electric Universe; a splendidly
illustrated and expensively-produced book by the Hungarian physicist Dr
L. Körtvélyessy (ab. L.K.), written in English, with a few minor errors
due to language difficulties. The heat of fusion in the solar core
causes its atomic particles to attain high velocities, so that there is
a continuous current flow along the temperature gradient from core to
surface. Electrons are predominant in this flow as they have well over
1000 times less mass than a proton. This gives the surface of the Sun a
layer of negative charge and the core an increasing positive charge. A
continuous solar wind is ejected from the surface and periodically the
positive charge on the core exceeds the breakdown value, causing
planet-sized pieces to break away and be expelled towards the surface.
The forces involved are gravitation, electro- magnetic, eddy currents
and gyroscopic.

L.K. shows that this mechanism, briefly sketched here, explains nearly
all the solar characteristics, such as sunspots, magnetic fields,
flares, prominences, periodic variations, neutrinos, the apparent high
temperature of the corona and the influences on Earth's climate. It is
based on a rational explanation of the generated electric power needed
for these features. The hypothesis of a dynamo involving moving flows of
highly conducting material and "frozen in" magnetic fields inside the
Sun is unnecessary. This idea is now a relic of the past.

The evidence for large-scale electrical discharges was described by
C.E.R.Bruce (1902 - 1979)(2) but his published papers and mine(3) were
unable to offer a satisfactory explanation of the massive charge
separation and accumulation required. Most astronomers ignored the
evidence for electrical discharges, even in books claiming to include
all aspects of astronomy, but now that L.K. has described a charging
process of sufficient magnitude, this attitude can no longer be
justified.

L.K. has applied his theory to the design of his very successful
patented industrial thermocouples, described in his book(4) on the
subject. Both conductors of a thermocouple generate a voltage when there
is a temperature difference between the junction at the hot end and the
instrument connection at the cold end. The temperature reading is caused
by the difference of these voltages. His very profitable thermocouple
factory has enabled him to establish observatories in Germany and
Hungary to study the Sun on a regular basis. The Electric Universe also
includes an explanation of neutron stars and their magnetic fields and
also comments on the filamentary nature of the Universe as a whole.

L.K. offers his book to astronomers free of charge, and he has posted a
copy to many individuals, but in order to discourage frivolous requests
for a copy he asks that unless the book is for a professional library
the person requesting a copy should donate an appropriate sum to a
charity, say £25 or equivalent. Send requests to Dr L. Körtvelyéssy,
Klever Berg 21, D-47433 Kleve, Germany. Email contact is
. Further information is on his website
http://www.electric-universe.de - E W CREW


References.

(1) K. J. H. Phillips, Guide to the Sun (Cambridge University Press),
1992, page 72.

(2) C. E. R. Bruce, The Observatory, 95, 204, 1975

(3) E. W. Crew, The Observatory, 101, 1040, 1981

(4) L. Körtvelyéssy, Thermoelement Praxis, Vulkan-Verlag Essen, 1981 (in
German)."

End copy review


--
Eric Crew