Re: magnetic lines like these?

[Tim Folkerts <Tim.Folkerts@valpo.edu>]

On Sun, 10 May 1998 12:09:23 -0400 (EDT) LUDWIK KOWALSKI 
<KOWALSKIL@alpha.montclair.edu> wrote:

> The main issue is to explain the experimental fact; measurable 
> magnetic fields were recorded by satellites as far as 100 AU 
> from the Sun. How can this happen? 

I had a thought that doesn't especially agree with the text you quoted, 
but what about this?


1)  The sun produces a local magnetic field.
2)  This field magnetizes (aligns the magnetic moments of) 
    the particles that make up the solar wind.  
3)  As the particles head out, they tend to keep their alignment.
4)  These aligned particles contribute to the local magnetic field
    at distant locations.

Think of it as throwing magnets away from the sun!  If you have a bunch 
of little magnets all pointing the same way, you have a magnetic field. 
I don't know how well it agrees with actual experiments, but it seems 
plausible.


---   Tim Folkerts



P.S.  On the subject of plausible models, while teaching some modern 
physics, I came up with a variation on the Standard Model.  At least to 
me, it seems simpler and offers some new insights.  It is by no means 
complete and I don't necessarily want to fill this list with a 
discussion of it, but I am curious to know what others with an actual 
background in particle physics think.  The main ideas are presented at 
http://physics.valpo.edu/faculty/tfolkerts/pq_intro.html .  I would 
appreciate any private comments people might have.  


********************************************************
Timothy J. Folkerts               Tim.Folkerts@valpo.edu
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy      219-464-6634
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN  46383