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NEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCE field, he said, lies within a larger galactic planets. In the lexicon of astronomy, this is upward, the temperature then rises steadily field. With this hypothesis, Juergens the “heliopause". In electrical terms, itis to about 20,000 degrees K at the top of the became the first to make the theoretical the cellular sheath or "double layer" chromosphere, some 2,200 kilometres leap to an external power source of the — separating the plasma cell that surrounds (1,200 miles) above the Sun's surface. Sun. the Sun ("heliosphere") from the Here it abruptly jumps hundreds of thou- Juergens proposed that the Sun is the — enveloping galactic plasma. sands of degrees, then continues slowly ris- focus of a "coronal glow discharge" fed by In an electric universe, such cellular ing, eventually reaching two million galactic currents. To avoid misunderstand- forms are expected between regions of dis- degrees in the corona. Even at a distance ing of this concept, it is essential that we similar plasma properties. According to _ of one or two solar diameters, ionised oxy- distinguish the complex electrodynamic the glow discharge model of the Sun, gen atoms reach a temperature of 200 mil- glow discharge model of the Sun from a almost the entire voltage difference lion degrees! simple electrostatic model that can be easily between the Sun and its galactic environ- In other words the "reverse temperature dismissed. ment occurs across the thin boundary _ gradient", while meeting the tests of the Throughout most of the volume of a _ sheath of the heliopause. glow discharge model, contradicts every glow discharge, the plasma is nearly original expectation of the fusion model. neutral with almost equal numbers of But this is only the first of many protons and electrons. In this view, enigmas and contradictions facing the the charge differential at the Earth's fusion hypothesis. As astronomer distance from the Sun is smaller than Juergens suggested that the Sun Fred Hoyle pointed out years ago, sent ability t as — H H H ith the sti ‘avity and th pethaps one or two electrons per | ' NOt an electrically isolated FS i09 degree temperature at the sur cubic metre. body in space but the most face, the Sun's atmosphere should be But the charge density is far higher wae . . only a few thousand kilometres thick, closer to the Sun, and at the solar positively charged object In the according to the "gas laws" that astro- corona and surface the electric field solar system, the centre of a physicists typically apply to such is of sufficient strength to generate . . " bodies. Instead, the atmosphere bal- all of the energetic shenomena we radial electric field. loons out to 100,000 kilometres, observe. he electric. theori This field, he said, lies within a where it heats up to a mien degrecs oday, the electric theorists + ge or more. From there, particles accel- Wallace Thornhill and Donald Scott larger galactic field. erate out among the planets in defi- urge a critical comparison of the ance of gravity. Thus the planets, fusion model and the electrical Earth included, could be said to orbit model. Given what we now know inside the Sun's diffuse atmosphere. about the Sun, which model meets the tests Inside the heliopause there is a weak but The discovery that blasts of particles of unity, coherence, simplicity and constant radial electrical field centred on escape the Sun at an estimated 400-700 predictability? Why did so many the Sun. A weak electric field, immeasur- kilometres per second came as an uncom- discoveries surprise investigators and even able locally with today's instruments but fortable surprise for advocates of the contradict the expectations of the fusion cumulative across the vast volume of space nuclear-powered model. Certainly, the model? Is there any fundamental feature of _ within the heliosphere, is sufficient to "pressure" of sunlight cannot explain the the Sun that contradicts the glow discharge _ power the solar discharge. acceleration of the solar "wind". In an hypothesis? The visible component of a coronal glow electrically neutral, gravity-driven uni- Our closer looks at the Sun have revealed discharge occurs above the anode, often in verse, particles are not hot enough to the pervasive influence of magnetic fields, layers. The Sun's red chromosphere is part escape such massive bodies, which (in the which are the effect of electric currents. of this discharge. (Unconsciously, it theory) are attractors only. And yet, the Sunspots, prominences, coronal mass seems, the correct electrical engineering particles of the solar wind continue to ejections and a host of other features require term was applied to the Sun's corona.) accelerate past Venus, Earth and Mars. ever more complicated guesswork on behalf Correspondingly, the highest particle ener- Since these particles are not miniature of the fusion model. But this is the way an _ gies are not at the photosphere but above it. "rocket ships", this acceleration is the last anode in a coronal glow discharge behaves! thing one should expect! In the electric model, the Sun is the Solar Temperatures According to the electric theorists, a "anode" or positively charged body in the The electric theorists see the Sun as a__— weak electric field, focused on the Sun, electrical exchange, while the "cathode" or perfect example of this characteristic of | better explains the acceleration of the negatively charged contributor is nota glow discharges—a radical contrast to the charged particles of the solar wind. discrete object but the invisible "virtual expected dissipation of energy from the _ Electric fields accelerate charged particles. cathode" at the limit of the Sun's coronal core outward in the fusion model of the And just as magnetic fields are undeniable discharge. (Coronal discharges can Sun. witnesses to the presence of electric cur- sometimes be seen as a glow surrounding At about 500 kilometres (310 miles) _ rents, particle acceleration is a good mea- high-voltage transmission wires, where the above the photosphere or visible surface, sure of the strength of an electric field. wires discharge into the surrounding air). _ we find the coldest measurable tempera- This virtual cathode lies far beyond the — ture, about 4,400 degrees K. Moving Continued on page 48 planets. In the lexicon of astronomy, this is the "heliopause". In electrical terms, it is the cellular sheath or "double layer" separating the plasma cell that surrounds the Sun ("heliosphere") from the enveloping galactic plasma. In an electric universe, such cellular forms are expected between regions of dis- similar plasma properties. According to the glow discharge model of the Sun, almost the entire voltage difference between the Sun and its galactic environ- ment occurs across the thin boundary sheath of the heliopause. Juergens suggested that the Sun is not an electrically isolated body in space but the most positively charged object in the solar system, the centre of a radial electric field. This field, he said, lies within a larger galactic field. Inside the heliopause there is a weak but constant radial electrical field centred on the Sun. A weak electric field, immeasur- able locally with today's instruments but cumulative across the vast volume of space within the heliosphere, is sufficient to power the solar discharge. The visible component of a coronal glow discharge occurs above the anode, often in layers. The Sun's red chromosphere is part of this discharge. (Unconsciously, it seems, the correct electrical engineering term was applied to the Sun's corona.) Correspondingly, the highest particle ener- gies are not at the photosphere but above it. Solar Temperatures The electric theorists see the Sun as a perfect example of this characteristic of glow discharges—a radical contrast to the expected dissipation of energy from the core outward in the fusion model of the Sun. At about 500 kilometres (310 miles) above the photosphere or visible surface, we find the coldest measurable tempera- ture, about 4,400 degrees K. Moving NEXUS + 47 Continued on page 48 AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2005 www.nexusmagazine.com