Is Magnetic Reconnection Pseudo-Science?

[tensordyne]

I have read over at plasmacosmology.net the following quote:

“Magnetic Reconnection is pseudo-science.” Hannes Alfven

Dr. Don Scott covers the topic here as a response to Dr. Tom Bridgeman’s critique of his book “The Electric Sky”.

Here is the section:

RECONNECTION On page 36 he claims I only discuss Magnetic Reconnection in FREE
SPACE [upper case is Bridgman‘s]. This is untrue. I never use the words ̳free space‘ in the entire
book. (I have an electronic version and have scanned it.) This is Bridgman‘s attempt at
obfuscation.
TB is visualizing a pure magnetic field (―in free-space‖), not realizing there has to be an electric
current in the nearby vicinity to create that field. Such currents require conducting paths – in
space this is provided by plasma.
The major point, that Bridgman and most other astrophysicists ignore, is that in order to have a
magnetic field, there has to be an associated electric current. If that current is abruptly
interrupted, the magnetic field quickly collapses, resulting in an explosive ejection of whatever
matter constituted the plasma. There is no such mechanism as ̳reconnection‘ – neither in free
space, in magnetized plasma, nor anywhere else.

So what is the deal? I am kind of confused myself on what Magnetic Reconnection is supposed to be and why Plasma Cosmology advocates are so against it as something real. Is it just that magnetic fields must have an associated current or is there something deeper going on? The Wikipedia article on Magnetic Reconnection says “It is a violation of an approximate conservation law in plasma physics, and can concentrate mechanical or magnetic energy in both space and time.” What law would that be? The no magnetic monopole law or something else? Sorry for so many questions but this seems a pretty apt topic of discussion. While I am at it, the Wikipedia article on this subject also talks about MHD and the THEMIS probe that supposedly shows why Magnetic Reconnection has physical grounds for validity. Any thoughts?

[vansig]

I don’t get that, at all. drilling down into the debate reaches Donald E. Scott’s abstract, here
http://ecolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov/archive/2009-Spring/announce.scott.html
which says,
“The presentation attempts to motivate the realization that ‘new science’ should not be invoked unless and until all aspects of what we already know, including plasma physics and basic electromagnetism, have been exhaustively applied in the investigation of what appear to be astronomical anomalies.”

An adequate layman’s view of the term ‘magnetic reconnection’ is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_reconnection
which has
“Solar flares, the largest explosions in the solar system, may involve the reconnection of large systems of magnetic flux on the Sun, releasing, in minutes, energy that has been stored in the magnetic field over a period of hours to days. Magnetic reconnection in Earth’s magnetosphere is one of the mechanisms responsible for the aurora, and it is important to the science of controlled nuclear fusion because it is one mechanism preventing magnetic confinement of the fusion fuel.”

I see no controversy there. If it were pseudo-science, I’d expect to see objections in that article

[tensordyne]

Well, I would not expect the wikipedia article to have much in the way about complaints of magnetic reconnection (the main thing I am looking for here). That quote I got off of plasma cosmology.net and I thought it was one of the talking points in PC/EU. I am more or less looking for a clear understanding of all the various viewpoints as well as maybe some related analysis.

[vansig]

In so much as wikipedia wants to rely on verifiable secondary-sourced material, the absence of controversy from the article suggests that the ongoing mud-slinging here may be ordinary posturing among arrogant specialists. Who really has a better grasp of the concept and where it’s applicable? I certainly don’t.
But they are using language that seethes with contempt. I’ll have to study the concept some more, myself, but so far i’m reading that the concept of reconnection is being misused by one of these two experts..

kind of like comparing a broken circuit
to two or more circuits becoming one.

[sparks]

tensordyne, “Is it just that magnetic fields must have an associated current or is there something deeper going on? “

That’s about it…Astrophysicists use the word plasma, but apparently know little about it, though there is more correct expression these past very few years by them.

They talk about “hot gas”, at temperatures where gas molecules have disassociated and have evolved into plasma, the forth state of matter, with it’s own unique properties. They then talk about this hot gas as a wind! Just nonsense!

So much of modern cosmology, based upon inadequate understanding of plasma and electrical currents throughout the universe, and relying upon gravity and fantasy magnetic fields with no causal currents, is just nonsense.

Magnetic reconnection is just one of many fantasy constructs. A very basic understanding of how plasma behaves is all that is needed to see that it is a much better explanation of what is being seen.

Magnetic fields can be mapped in space. These are produced by electrical currents, which usually can not be seen directly, but by what they produce.
The magnetic fields further constrict and accelerate these currents, producing radiation, which has been mapped. Where current density reaches a certain level, light photons will be emitted and the twisting currents, as filamentary structures, can be seen. IF current density exceeds a certain level, the plasma cable explodes, just as a current carrying wire can explode. That is what is seen, not magnetic reconnection without current involved! This has all been observed on earth, in labs. These earth based experiments can be scaled up to galaxy size and time.

There are no earth based experiments that can show the effects of gravity upon matter that is required by standard cosmology, let alone magnetic reconnection!

Everything is electrical!! And until astrophysicists apply the pervading E/M
field to their equations and get acquainted with what plasma really does, they will remain in the dark, along with their fantasy dark matter/energy!

Anyone can get the basics in short order at any number of sites focusing on a plasma/electrical universe. Reeducating the experts takes a little more time.:)

[Author]

Posts