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Magnetic Vortex Filaments, Universal Scale Invariants, and the Fundamental Constants
Abstract
An explanation for the observed scale invariants in the universe is presented. Force-free magnetic vortex filaments are proposed to play a crucial role in the formation of superclusters, clusters, galaxies, and stars by initiating gravitational compression. The critical velocities involved in vortex formation are shown to explain the observed constant orbital velocities of clusters, galaxies, and stars. A second scale invariant nr = C where n is particle density and r is average distance between objects, is also noted here and explained by our model. The model predicts a maximum size for magnetic vortices, which is comparable to the dimensions of the observable universe and a density for such vortices which is close to that actually observed, eliminating any theoretical need for missing mass. On this basis, we present an alternative cosmology to that of the "Big Bang," one which provides a much better fit to recent observations of large-scale structure and motion. The model suggests scale invariants between microscopic and cosmological scales, leading to the derivation of a simple analytical expression for the fundamental constants G, mp/me, and e2/hc. We conclude that these expressions indicate the existence of vortex phenomena on the particle level.
... The present author [34] added to the quantitative predictions of this structure-formation model by showing that the filaments had a characteristic velocity vc = (m/M) 3/4 c, which for hydrogen is 1,070 km/s. The concentration of plasma in the filaments can produce masses that can contract further gravitationally, but only if the plasmas are collisional-that is, if the mean free path is less than the radius of the filaments. ...
... The hypothesis that structure formation involves large-scale filamentary currents successfully predicted the existence of magnetic fields large enough to pinch together the largest-scale plasma concentrations. The author [34] predicted the field strength at the largest scales to be around 20 nG. While there still exist no actual measurements of magnetic field at scales of a Gpc, recent studies, [39] of the deflection of EeV cosmic rays show evidence for the existence of fields in excess of 10 nG on scales of at least 50 Mpc. ...
The Big Bang hypothesis (BBH) predicts that all structures in the universe must have formed in the time since the Big Bang currently calculated to be a maximum of 13.8 Gy ago. During that time, large-scale structures can only grow to a predicted maximum extent of no more than 250 Mpc. However, in the past decade increasing numbers of independent observations have demonstrated the existence of much larger structures up to 1.5 Gpc in radius, which must have taken at least 100 Gy to form. In contrast, if the BBH is discarded, these ultra-large structures have time to form and the evolution of the large-scale structures of the universe is correctly predicted in some detail, involving only well-studied processes of plasma filamentation and gravitation. Recent observations have confirmed the role of magnetized plasma filaments in this process, first predicted by Alfven and others over 40 years ago.
Using recent observational data, we here test the theory, first proposed by Carlqvist and Gahm, that astrophysical filaments are formed by the Bennett pinch process. In this process, current flowing along the axis of the filament creates a toroidal magnetic field, which in turn creates an inward electromagnetic pressure that draws plasma toward the axis of the filament. In such filaments, the inward pinching force and outwards kinetic forces are approximately equal–the Bennett pinch condition. We find that the Bennett pinch condition does in fact hold, as predicted by the theory, for a sample of interstellar filaments, including molecular clouds, such as Taurus, IC5146, the pipe nebula, the infrared dark cloud G035.39–00.33, as well as
fibers at high galactic latitudes, supernova remnant SN1006. The currents are estimated to be about 10
12
–10
14
A. These values are similar to that estimated by Carlqvist and Gahm for Lynds204. The Bennett pinch relation is also applied to intergalactic filaments, such as the ridge between Abell 0399 and 0401. This filament is almost in equilibrium. These results reinforce the validity of the theory.
Amidst the success story of standard cosmology one should not lose sight of healthy reminders of why also off-the-mainstream ideas can be useful and have the right to exist in contemporary science. First, the finite observable part of the possibly infinite universe does not allow one to test directly the initial hypotheses on the universe as a whole. The possibility of a major reform is not excluded. Second, even the known phenomena may have different interpretations, each corresponding to a specific choice of the basic framework able to explain key observations. Third, theoretical physics is a developing subject and “new physics” may offer a variety of cosmological applications. Fourth, observations and theoretical understanding are always limited, hence even a quite credible world model has its limitations, too (in current cosmology the nature of 95% of the substance is unknown).
We present a review of the history and the present state of the fractal approach to the large-scale distribution of galaxies. Angular correlation function was used as a general instrument for the structure analysis. It was realized later that a normalization condition for the reduced correlation function estimator results in distorted values for both R_{hom} and fractal dimension D. Moreover, according to a theorem on projections of fractals, galaxy angular catalogues can not be used for detecting a structure with the fractal dimension D>2. For this 3-d maps are required, and indeed modern extensive redshift-based 3-d maps have revealed the ``hidden'' fractal dimension of about 2, and have confirmed superclustering at scales even up to 500 Mpc (e.g. the Sloan Great Wall). On scales, where the fractal analysis is possible in completely embedded spheres, a power--law density field has been found. The fractal dimension D =2.2 +- 0.2 was directly obtained from 3-d maps and R_{hom} has expanded from 10 Mpc to scales approaching 100 Mpc. In concordance with the 3-d map results, modern all sky galaxy counts in the interval 10^m - 15^m give a 0.44m-law which corresponds to D=2.2 within a radius of 100h^{-1}_{100} Mpc. We emphasize that the fractal mass--radius law of galaxy clustering has become a key phenomenon in observational cosmology.
An electromotive force ϕ = ∫ v × B⋅ dl giving rise to electrical currents in conducting media is produced wherever a relative perpendicular motion of plasma and magnetic field lines exist (Sect. 3.5.2). An example of this is the sunward convective motion of the magnetospheric plasma that cuts the earth’s dipole field lines through the equatorial plane, thereby producing a Lorentz force that drives currents within the auroral circuit. The tendency for charged particles to follow magnetic lines of force and therefore produce field-aligned currents has resulted in the widespread use of the term “Birkeland Currents” in space plasma physics.
Today many scientists recognize plasma as the key element to understanding new observations in near-Earth, interplanetary, interstellar, and intergalactic space; in stars, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, and throughout the observable universe. Physics of the Plasma Universe, 2nd Edition is an update of observations made across the entire cosmic electromagnetic spectrum over the two decades since the publication of the first edition. It addresses paradigm changing discoveries made by telescopes, planetary probes, satellites, and radio and space telescopes. The contents are the result of the author's 37 years research at Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories, and the U.S. Department of Energy. This book covers topics such as the large-scale structure and the filamentary universe; the formation of magnetic fields and galaxies, active galactic nuclei and quasars, the origin and abundance of light elements, star formation and the evolution of solar systems, and cosmic rays. Chapters 8 and 9 are based on the research of Professor Gerrit Verschuur, and reinvestigation of the manifestation of interstellar neutral hydrogen filaments from radio astronomical observations are given. Using data from the Green Bank 100-m telescope (GBT) of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), detailed information is presented for a non-cosmological origin for the cosmic microwave background quadruple moment. This volume is aimed at graduate students and researchers active in the areas of cosmic plasmas and space science. The supercomputer and experimental work was carried out within university, National laboratory, Department of Energy, and supporting NASA facilities.
A plasma model of the origin of the light elements and the microwave background is presented. In contrast to the conventional Big Bang hypothesis, the model assumes that helium, deuterium and the microwave background were all generated by massive stars in the early stages of galaxy formation. The microwave background is scattered and isotropized by multi-GeV electrons trapped in the jets emitted by active galactic nuclei. The model produces reasonable amounts of heavy elements, accurately predicts the gamma-ray background intensity and spectrum, and explains the statistics of quasars, compact and extended radio sources.
Cosmic plasma physics and our concept of the universe is in a state of rapid revision. This change started with in-situ measurements of plasmas in Earth's ionosphere, cometary atmospheres, and planetary magnetospheres; the transition of knowledge from laboratory experiments to astrophysical phenomena; discoveries of helical and filamentary plasma structures in the Galaxy and double radio sources; and the particle simulation of plasmas not accessible to in-situ measurement. Because of these, Birkeland (field-aligned) currents, double layers, and magnetic-field aligned electric fields are now known to be far more important to the evolution of space plasma, including the acceleration of charged particles to high energies, than previously thought. This paper reviews the observational evidence for a plasma universe threaded by Birkeland currents and particle beams.
Due to appearance of theories taking to account effects of multi-scale energy trans-fer, several practical applications of these theories possibly applicable for develop-ment of new energy sources are described and discussed.
The COBE data on cosmic Background radiation (CBR) isotropy and spectrum are generally considered to be explicable only in the context of the Big Bang theory and to be confirmation of that theory. However, this data can also be explained by an alternative, non-Big Bang model which hypothesizes an intergalactic radio-absorbing and scattering medium. A simple, inhomogenous model of such an absorbing medium can reproduce both the isotropy and spectrum of the CBR within the limits observed by COBE, and in fact gives a better to fit to the spectrum observations than does a pure blackbody. Such a model does not contradict any other observations, such as the existence of distant radio sources.
The results of a study of the position angles and polarization of high
luminosity classical-double radio sources are discussed, taking into
account a sample of 94 radio sources. There appears to be strong
evidence that the universe is anisotropic on a large scale, producing
position angle offsets in the polarization and brightness distributions
of radio souces. These can probably be explained on the basis of a
rotation of the universe with an angular velocity of approximately 10 to
the -13th rad/yr. Such a rotation would have drastic cosmological
consequences, since it would violate Mach's principle and the widely
held assumption of large-scale isotropy.
For a sample of 21 Sc galaxies ranging from very low to very high
luminosity, we have previously presented rotational velocities across
∼83% of the galaxy isophotal radius, R25. We now
analyze the mass distributions for this same sample, and show that for
all galaxies, the mass distribution has a single unique form, when the
masses are each scaled by a mass scale length, Rm. Unlike
luminosity scale lengths which are larger for more luminous (larger)
galaxies, mass scale lengths are smaller for galaxies of high
luminosity. As normalized here (the radius encompassing a mass of
1010 Msun), Rm is near 4 kpc for a
low luminosity Sc and is near 1.5 kpc for a high luminosity Sc. A low
luminosity Sc contains a single mass scale length, a high luminosity
Sc contains many tens of scale lengths within its isophotal radius. At
similar multiples of their scale lengths, all Sc's have equal interior
masses.
The form of the characteristic mass curve implies that rotation curves
are still rising slightly at radii of many scale lengths, V ∝
r0.1 or r0.2, and local density falls off slower
than 1/r2 (ρ ∝ r-1.7). We conclude that
the rotational velocities remain high at large nuclear distances due
to the presence of significant nonluminous mass at large radii.
Correlations between integral mass, luminosity, mass scale length,
isophotal radius, and velocity at the isophotal radius are determined
and discussed. The correlation of luminosity with V(R25)) is
as steep as that found in the infrared. The ratio of mass to
luminosity interior to the isophotal radius is independent of
luminosity and equals 3.0 ± 0.3 for Sc galaxies.
The fine-structure constant alpha has been determined from precision measurements of quantized Hall resistances RH of three different GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs heterostructures. The result, alpha-1=137.035 968(23) (0.17 ppm), is in excellent agreement with the 0.11-ppm value obtained from the gyromagnetic ratio of the proton, gammap', and 2eh via the Josephson effect. Our RH value can be combined with gammap' and 2eh to yield a more accurate value of alpha-1 independent of the ohm: alpha-1=137.035 965(12) (0.089 ppm).
Photographs of the current sheath of a (low energy) plasma focus show a disruption of the filaments. This phenomenon is interpreted as a vortex breakdown. The widening of a vortex due to axial velocity increase is analyzed by means of magnetohydrodynamic collinear models. The main results are: (1) the existence of a limit separating supercritical from subcritical regimes; (2) the existence of flow regimes where the vortex radius remains approximately constant for moderate increments of the external velocity; (3) the structure of the vortex may change substantially for a sufficiently large increment of the external velocity, even in subcritical states; and (4) the possibility that a burst of the vortex may occur when the external velocity suffers a slowdown.
In an area roughly 20°×70° on the sky, there exists an excess of bright, high-redshift quasars. Quasars with this distribution of apparent magnitude and redshift have a negligible chance of being drawn from the population of quasars present in other areas of the sky. At a mean redshift distance corresponding to their average z ≈ 2, these quasars would represent an unprecedented inhomogeneity over enormous volumes of space in the universe.
The transverse electromagnetic or filamentary instability is reconsidered in light of recent experiments which were unable to suppress the instability by increasing the beam transverse temperature. I find that only the applied magnetic field can stabilize the mode. While the beam temperature can cause stabilization in a collisionless, nu=0, plasma, for finite nu the beam is unstable to filamentation if omegapb2beta2gamma>Omegace2, regardless of its temperature.
The equilibrium configuration of a neutralized electron beam is calculated, including the self-field (parallel to the beam) generated by the beam itself. The resultant equilibrium configuration allows an arbitrary current to be carried by the beam, the motion of electrons being unimpeded by the self-magnetic field. Electrons in this configuration travel almost parallel to the magnetic field; thus, the synchrotron radiation can be minimized. It is suggested that this type of configuration opens up the possibility of low-loss electron coils and, in particular, is useful for fusion reactors.