Re: [Phys-l] a magnetic filament snapped.

[Roger Haar <haar@physics.arizona.edu>]

Hi,

	These flux lines are not bare magnetic flux lines, but are embedded in 
a plasma and thus have electrons and ions circling the flux lines, 
creating their own magnetic field, which feed back on the original 
magnetic lines.  Movement in the plasma can drag the flux l about.

	Allow me to suggest an article titled "The Mysterious Origins of Solar 
Flares: in Scientific American, April 2006.  I think it gives a fair 
introduction to some concepts that are involved.

Thanks
 Roger Haar
  U of AZ physics
*******************************************************

Chuck Britton wrote:
> from http://spaceweather.com/  (a nasa site)  I read:
>
> 		Yesterday on the sun, a magnetic filament snapped.
>
> I would like to think that some of my sharp HS students might wonder 
> about the 'basic physics' involved here.
>
> I like to visualize 'lines of magnetic flux' as Faraday did.
> Basic physics says that these flux lines have no ends - so how can they 'snap'?
>
> I'm pretending to have an idea about how this could be, but would 
> like some other input.
>
> 1st assumption:	nasa's statement has some merit, at least from a 
> descriptive point of view.
> 2nd assumption:	we're talking about a very complex turbulent system 
> of high speed
> 		charged particles associated with this flux filament.
>
> I can visualize a simple system that might have a bearing on this 'snap'.
>
> Two disk magnets put face-to-face will have a 'simple' B-field around them.
>
> If these two disks are forced apart from each other, the 'simple, 
> single' field will separate into two 'simple' fields. This transition 
> from one field to two separate fields is very complicated and I will 
> invoke some complex turbulence to make an otherwise smooth transition 
> into the 'snap'.
>
> Totally bogus oversimplification on my part???
>
> I like to pretend that large scale physical systems obey the basic 
> laws of physics and that some sort of intuitive connection is 
> possible. (WWFS - What Would Feynmann Say?)
>
> TIA - Nomex underwear has been donned.
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