The Earth is a sphere in space. The environment of space is very important in the understanding of the Earths actions.
With respect to the Earth, there are four specific sections of space. Section one is within the Earth's atmosphere. Section two is outside the Earth's atmosphere and inside the magnetopause. The third section of space is outside the magnetopause and is unaffected by the Earth but inside the solar system. And, the fourth section of space is outside the solar system.
The following terms will be defined as: Section 1. is Atmosphere. Section 2. is Outer Space; just outside the Earth's atmosphere. Section 3. is Interplanetary Space; Solar System space. Section 4. is Deep Space; Outside the Solar System.
Space makes a very interesting environment. For many years Outer Space, Interplanetary Space, and Deep Space have been considered a total vacuum. Also, for many years there was considered only three states of matter; Solid, Liquid and Gas. But, things have changed and now there is a forth state of matter and that is plasma. It has been found that Outer Space, Interplanetary Space and Deep Space contain lots of plasma particles. Thus, space is far from a vacuum.
A generally simplified definition of plasma is the condition where an electron is without a proton or visa versa. The beginning of the term plasma required an equal amount of electrons and protons (ions) in a specific area, however, it has been shown that there can exist an odd number ratio of protons to electrons and still maintain the state of plasma.
It turns out that Interplanetary Space contains from 2 to 20 particles per cubic centimeter. This seems to be consistent between Venus and Jupiter. The proton type is about 80 percent hydrogen 20 percent helium and traces of particles all the way up to oxygen. The Sun's corona and output directly affects the number of particles present and the amount of particles seem to follow an Archimedean spiral emanating from the sun.
Since measuring the solar wind began, it seems there is an electron flow away from the Sun. However, this was considered impossible. Something is wrong with the measurements, because if there were a flow of electrons away from the Sun, then eventually the Sun would lack electrons making it extremely positive. There would be a time when the Sun would be sufficiently positive to electrically stop electrons from leaving. How can a current be leaving the Sun without building up a positive counteractive electric force? Any way, measurements show both electrons and protons flow away from the sun. However, even with modern measuring equipment it seems more electrons are flowing away from the sun than protons.
It can be shown that an electron cloud will occur if we heat up a wire in a vacuum. Thomas Edison figured it out. We can suck off electrons if a positive plate is near the electrons and a current is created. This is the theory of the vacuum tube. The Sun is extremely hotter than the filament of any vacuum tube, therefore, an electron cloud is more than possible, rather, it would be highly likely to have an electron cloud about the Sun. It is estimated that there is an electron cloud just above the surface of the Sun. The temperature just above the surface of the Sun is much hotter than the surface.
Interplanetary Space current measurements show a grater intensity moving outward from the equator of the Sun than twenty degrees north (upward) above the Sun. There will be no proof nor argument for or against the condition where electrons are returning via the Sun's poles. However, there is the possibility. There is a energy difference. The Sun is high energy and deep space is low energy. There seems to be a main current flow? Electron current is flowing away from the Sun at the equator and the laws of physics requires it to return somewhere. The poles can complete the current path. Experiments show there is a varying current as one goes toward the poles of the Sun. Would there be eddy currents? Very probably. A component of the solar environment of Interplanetary Space is the electrical field. At 1au distance from the Sun, at the Earth orbital, the field intensity has been measured at 2 volts per thousand meters. Closer to the Sun the charge variance goes up.
Electric Field in Space
Field intensities of 40 thousand volts per meter have been detected in the Van Allan belts. This field is caused by trapped electrons in the Outer Space area. The electrons become trapped because of the affect of the Earth's magnetic field on a charged particle. As more and more electrons are trapped the charge density increase, thus, increasing the electrical field intensity. Consequently, the electrical fields close to the Earth are an effect and not a cause.
The polarity of the Interplanetary Space electric field is in accordance with the electron cloud theory and that is negative toward the Sun and positive toward deep space.
Another consideration is the electrons in space are not at rest. They are highly excited state, thus, the current effect of the electron is going to be different than an electron in the rest state. Current flow in a conducting wire is that of rest state electrons. In fact the magnetics as defined earlier in this paper, is dependent upon rest electrons.
To study this effect one needs to employ J.J. Thomson's procedure. Thomson found the ratio of charge per mass by accelerating an electron between a cathode electron emitter and a positive accelerating plate with a little hole in it. The accelerated electron beam is then passed through electrostatic plates and magnetic field to a fluorescent screen. A dot shows up corresponding the electron beam. The whole thing is in a vacuum. This is in affect a television tube and one may use a television tube for this experiment.
When Thomson did the experiment, he found that the value of e/m was constant, independent of the cathode material, and residual gas. This also suggest that it is independent of cathode temperature too.
The accelerated velocity of the electron is proportional to the square root of accelerating voltage. The formula being:
Since Thomson has already figured out the formulas for the deflection of the electron beam due to the electrostatic plates and the magnetic field it is not necessary for me to develop them.
The deflection ym due to the magnetic field is:
The deflection ye due to the electric field is:
Properly aligning the electric field and magnetic field it is possible to have one field counteract the other such that the net deflection is zero for a given acceleration voltage. Thus:
If Thomson's experiment were independent of acceleration voltage and electron velocity then the value of E would be directly proportional to the square root of V. Or, to say the: the electric deflection voltage is directly proportional the square root of accelerating voltage for a constant charge per mass ratio.
Using two acceleration voltages drastically different V = 200 volts and V = 40000 volts. (Note. this can be achieved with a TV tube but the filament must be cooled or the accelerating plate gets red hot and the control grids must be held at a slightly positive voltage.) An accelerating voltage of 500 volts Thomson was able to obtain the desired result of an e/m of 1.7 x 10^11 coulombs per kilogram. However, at high acceleration voltages the ratio is only slightly greater. One would think it would be less because the excited electron mass is supposed to be greater. M = Mo / ((1-((v/c)^2)^.5) is the relativistic mass as a particle approaches the speed of light. Since the acceleration of a potential of 500 volts yields a velocity of 1.33 x 10^7 meters per second and the acceleration of a potential of 50000 volts is a velocity of 1.33 x 10^8 meters per second which is a little less than half the speed of light, thus, relative mass takes affect. Several things can be said, first is that Thomson's electron is not at rest. Another is the electric effect is greater than the mass effect. Assuming measurements are within reason and taking into consideration relativistic mass the e/m ratio is close to a constant for accelerated electrons and those close to rest. However, this is not true with super accelerated electrons, highly excited electrons or an electron cloud with ions in it.
One might ask, what does this have to do with solar wind? The solar wind is made of highly excited electrons of about 5000 electron volts and associated ions. To maintain a constant e/m ratio of a seemingly electrically neutral electron-proton plasma material which is in an excited state the relativistic viewer must see it as a charged electric field. Since the plasma particles are moving outward spherically from the Sun with velocities between 200 - 800 kilometers per second and denser at the equator, the effect on a relativistic viewer stationary to the plasma flow is that of an expanding electric field which is most intense at the Sun's equator.
The way the solar wind is moving away from the Sun is denser in the middle and weaker toward the Sun's poles. The Interplanetary Space magnetic field from the Sun is erratic toward the equator. The common argument for the way the solar wind blows is that it follows the magnetic lines of the Sun. A common argument for the way the Sun's magnetic field drifts is the Sun's magnetic lines point outward toward space at the equator and go out infinitely.
These two arguments are erroneous. First: as stated earlier; there is no such thing as magnetic lines. A magnetic field is a vectored constant field and there are no discreet components about it. Secondly: no flux goes infinitely.
There must be an explanation for the magnetic flux change. Applying Schrodinger's wave equation with n = 0 type wave to a scenario like the one proposed, there is more than a simple possibility that a space current can be created in a spherical system. These probable currents are just an example of sub wave currents that can be created by a spherically radiating wave.
Because plasma can easily create such a wave pattern, practically, it is possible that some form of electron current exists spherically in space. This condition does not have to be a constant circular current either. All that needs to be present to satisfy the probability condition is the electron to shift its velocity away from its outward path from the Sun to a position perpendicular to the trajectory. In effect, this would be a sideways current.
If an electron current drift in a direction opposite that of the Planets orbit were present in Solar Space the resulting magnetic component would vectorially add to the Sun's magnetic field and alter the Solar Space magnetic field close to the Earth in such a way as to explain the measured field. An interesting anticipatory aspect of this wave is the equatorial center would have an opposite direction effect.
In the drawing above, the current drift is around the Sun at a distance above and below the equatorial plain of the Sun. This current would look like donuts about the Sun. As the distance from the Sun increase more current drifts about the Sun could occur. Applying Schrodinger's wave equation for various distance and probabilities of a current and a line were drawn between the centers of the current donuts the line would cut the equatorial plain at a value generally close to a sequence like the Bode-Titus relationship. That is to say there will be a discreet mathematical jump in probable areas where a current could exist, and would create wave traps in the equatorial plain. In the wave structure there would be places of peaks and nodes where a particle or other objects could be trapped.
As the solar wind electrons and protons plow into the Earth's magnetic field they will be deflected by the magnetic field. Although this is a reactionary effect, It will apply a force to the Earth. The force type is kinetic however, its is coupled to the Earth by the magnetic field. The result of the force is to push the magnetic field as a whole.
There are two components to the force. One component is the effects of the electron and proton hitting the field directly. The other effect is the mass being deflected. The direct force is proportional to the number of particles banging into the field. The deflection force is perpendicular to the particle path and is proportional to the mass discrepancy of particles going around the Earth. Since the solar wind plasma conducts, the adjacent particles will also influence the deflection pressure.
Evaluating the kinetic energy of 1/2 mass times velocity squared: The mass of the protons evolved in an electric pressure using a Magnetosheath value at its widest point (10 Earth radii) is; m = 10 * 6.378 x 10^6 * PI * 15 x 10^9 * 1.673 x 10^-27 = 5.03 x 10^-7 Ke~ 3,000 Kgm. Subtracting the mass of the electron going on the other side and it still remains approximately 3 Mgm. Not much compared to the 10^24 Kgm mass of the Earth. However, this force is applied continually, second in and second out. But there is a big problem with this force if the magnetic field is reversed. The problem is this would be a retarding force. Several planets have a reversed polarity magnetic field. Given this as a driving force, those planets would be going in the opposite direction.
Near Earth Solar Wind parameters taken from Principles of Plasma Physics.
| Quiet times | Disturbed times | |
| Density | 11-10 ion/cm^3 | 20-40 ion/cm^3 |
| Bulk speed | 100-400 km/s | 800 km/s |
| Ion temperature | ~8 x 10^4 K | ~3 x 10^5 K |
| Proton energy | ~600 eV | ~3,000 eV |
| Electron energy | ~0.3 eV | ~1.5 eV |
| Magnetic field intensity | 3-8 x 10^-5 G | 10-30 x 10^-5 G |
| Electron cyclotron frequency | ~500 /s | |
| Proton cyclotron frequency | ~0.3 /s | |
| Energy density of magnetic field | 60 eV/cm^3 | 1,000 eV/cm^3 |
| Thermal energy density | 40-150 eV/cm^3 | 500-1,500 eV/cm^3 |
| Thermal density at bulk speed | 6,000-10,000 eV/cm^3 | 100,000 eV/cm^3 |
| Energy flux | ~0.5 erg/cm^2 s | ~15 erg/cm^2 s |
| Alfven speed | 30-70 km/s | 70-120 km/s |
Derived parameters for typical conditions:
| Debye length | 5-10 m |
| 10^9 | |
| 1-2 x 10^5 /s | |
| 4 x 10^5 s | |
| 7 x 10^9 m | |
| 10^6 s | |
| 10^8 s |
TABLE OF CONTENTS