New experiments have shown the source of the aurora borealis
Researchers have demonstrated Alfvén waves accelerating electrons under conditions that correspond to Earth's magnetosphere. The magnetosphere around the Earth contains ionized charged particles or plasma, one of the four types of matter along with solid, liquid, and gas. Plasmas are similar to both fluids and gases but also contain magnetic and electric fields. In 1942, Hannes Alfvén predicted that plasmas could support waves. These waves are today called Alfvén waves. The new experiments show that electrons "surf" on the electric field of the Alfvén wave in a phenomenon known as Landau damping. This means the energy of the wave is transferred to the accelerated electrons, like a surfer catching a wave and being continually accelerated as the surfer moves along with the wave. These electrons are the ultimate source of the light we call the aurora borealis.
The electrons stream along the magnetic field lines and run into atoms of oxygen and molecules of oxygen and nitrogen, knocking them into excited states resulting in their emissions of a wide range of colors.
Journal Reference:
Schroeder, J. W. R., et al., Laboratory measurements of the physics of auroral electron acceleration by Alfvén waves, Nature Communications 12, 3103 (2021).
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23377-5
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2022, @10:26AM
In this magnetosphere
With these Alfvén waves
Experiencing this type of Landau damping
Localized entirely within your kitchen?
Yes.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Thursday May 05 2022, @10:30AM (2 children)
Elven waves. The aurora is magic, and elves are magic. Therefore, they are elven waves.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2022, @11:16AM (1 child)
Aye. But inb4 high and dank elves are aliens.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday May 05 2022, @04:10PM
Nah, high elves just wanna be mellow dude.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2022, @12:11PM (4 children)
with science phenomena always being named after the discoverer?
Cause it is really over complicates the memory process.
Can we please just call it plasma waves?
Who the fuck wants to remember Alfvén waves?
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2022, @12:17PM
Electric universe waves.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2022, @12:44PM
4000 Kelvin hot take
(Score: 4, Touché) by Opportunist on Thursday May 05 2022, @02:03PM
I agree. Welsh researchers should from now on name their discoveries after their home towns.
I present to you, the Eglwyswrw effect and the Ynysybwl function.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2022, @04:29PM
The problem with the moniker "plasma waves" is that there are many sorts of plasma waves that are not Alfvén waves. The Alfvén waves describe a subset of possible plasma waves - hence need their own designation.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Thursday May 05 2022, @10:26PM (2 children)
Aren't all ionized gas tubes ( e.g. fluorescent, neon, mercury, metal halide, etc. ) based on properties of plasmas ?
Ever seen em' become unstable? Flickering and fluttering?
Didn't you just witness what drives the Aurora Borealis to do the same?
Or what makes lightning bolts jagged?
Someone just wrote a paper on it and named it before you did.
You just witnessed another demonstration of Chaos theory.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 06 2022, @03:17AM (1 child)
No.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Friday May 06 2022, @04:18AM
Oh gawd, I just re-read my post.
I would flat delete it if I could.
I sure came across as a pompous ass...
I meant to share my observations on why things are the way they are by observing common everyday phenomena.
I am going to cringe at myself everytime I use the word "you". My bad. I got the message whether or not the intention was to send it.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 05 2022, @11:43PM (1 child)
One of the four states of matter.
Plasmas, gasses, and liquids are all fluids.
Plasmas carry an electric charge and produce magnetic fields.
/rant
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 06 2022, @03:11AM
The Solar wind does not generate the magnetic field lines, just carry them away from the Sun.