MrGrynch
27th June 2007 - 07:42 PM
http://www.physorg.com/news102175962.html This is the same phenomenon seen in passing comets and asteroids. As these bodies pass through varying charge potentionals of the pervading Birkeland currents in space, they attempt to equalize, as all plasmas will do. This equalization involves the movement of charges from one place to another (i.e. a current), and charged particles are taken for a ride. This is also the same mechanism responsible for the "geysers" and spurious "vulcanism" seen on the moons of Saturn, and Jupiter.
-G
jeffsaunders
28th June 2007 - 05:44 AM
I too initially thought this effect could be described simply by charged particles causing reflections or even making sparks.
However an outgasing would also change the reflective index in that area and may also be charged or acquire a charge during the outgas process and thus glow or at least reflect more sunlight over a small area.
Perhaps argon at low pressure and under the influence of a charge would naturally become a glowing plasma. Like an argon or neon light
LearmSceince
28th June 2007 - 07:18 PM
But Plasma Cosmology has been shown to be totally without foundation in reality. In particular, look at the results from "Cluster" and others that are charting the magnetic fields and interaction with the solar wind in great detail.