Space observations have opened the spectral regions of X-rays and γ-rays, which are produced by plasma processes. The Plasma Universe derived from observations in these regions is drastically different from the now generally accepted ‘Visual Light Universe’ based on visual light observations alone. Historically this transition can be compared only to the transition from the the geocentric to the heliocentric cosmology.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss what criteria a cosmological theory must satisfy in order to be acceptable in the Plasma Universe.

On the average, intergalactic space contains a component of gas, dust, and plasma. The numerical density of this medium depends very strongly on what the actual distance is to objects of intermediate and high redshifts. The average density could be enormously higher than currently assumed. In addition, there is the problem of how the material outside the galaxies is distributed. X-ray emission observed in clouds exterior to galaxies as well as in diffuse backgrounds in clusters of galaxies also attest to the radiation of hot plasmas between galaxies. The sizes of these X-ray emitting regions scale with their distances.

A 32-year-old hypothesis of the formation of barred-spiral galaxies (Bostick 1957, 1958, 1986; Laurence, 1956) which become coherent-self-exciting homopolar generators has recently gained confirmative support from 3-D, particle-in-cell computer simulations (Nielsen et al. 1979; Buneman et al. 1980; Peratt et al. 1980, 1984, 1986). Such galaxies should be able to convert an appreciable fraction, f, of the energy from their gravitationally-collapsing plasmas to coherently-increasing magnetic energy via their coherent, self-exciting, homopolar-generator action. The following simple calculation shows that the resulting mutually-induced magnetic repulsions (Len's law) between neighboring galaxies is greater than the gravitational attractive forces between the galaxies. The observed expansion of the Universe can be thus simply accounted for without recourse to the ‘Big Bang’ hypothesis, with its unaccounted-for mysteries.

Both, in the laboratory (specifically the plasma focus) and in astrophysics, charges are accelerated in magnetically pinched current channels. The current channels are annular cylinders, defined by an electric double layer of thickness δrE and radius R due to radial polarization of the plasma. The electric field Er in the double layer and the azimuthal magnetic field Bϕ ensure drifts of charges in the axial direction, but ions do not take up the full drift velocity because their Larmor radius exceeds δrE. Magnetic pinching of the channel reduces the cross sectional area S, and an instability of drift velocity may denude a region of current channel. The inductively maintained current J then cannot be carried by free charges, even with relativistic drift velocity. A displacement current (S/4π) δEz/δt arises, Ez growing until all energy in Bϕ is transferred into Ez. During this transfer Bϕ decreases, so the pinch weakens, permitting discharge of accumulated space charge via a conduction current without reversal of J. Thereafter the cycle repeats quasi-periodically.

In astrophysics acceleration occurs in a pinched magnetic vortex tube (MVT). The difference is that now Bϕ(r, +z) = −Bϕ(r, −z) due to winding of loops of field lines. Hence J reverses across mid-pinch, which implies accumulation of space charge of one sign at mid-pinch and of opposite sign at the ends of the pinch. Now there is reversal of J when the space charge relaxes.

The synchrotron emission from relativistic electrons in a thermal plasma with large-scale random magnetic fields is considered. In this case, the spectral synchrotron power of a single electron can be given in closed form allowing exact analytical expressions for the synchrotron emissivity, absorption coefficient, intensity and total energy loss of particles to be derived. The influence of various physical parameters such as gas density, magnetic field strength, particle's Lorentz factor on the resulting emissivities, intensities and energy loss is discussed in detail. Below the Razin– Tsytovich frequency vR = 20 Hz (ne/l cm−3) (B/l Gauss)−1, the spectral appearance of synchrotron radiation both in the optically thin and thick case is quite different than the vacuum behaviour. Since in the quasar broad line regions, vR is of the order 1011 Hz the suppression of synchrotron radiation may explain why most quasars are radio quiet. Likewise, the necessary physical conditions for the occurrence of synchrotron masering in the optically thick case are given. We obtain optical depth |τ|>1 for compact nonthermal sources. The total energy loss of a single particle is shown to be exponentially reduced at Lorentz factors less than γR = 2·1. 10−3 (ne/1 cm−3)½ (B/1 Gauss)−1.

Experiments in the laboratory and in situ measurements in space represent an essential, but often overlooked, key to reliable understanding of our plasma universe. This will be illustrated by discussing several fundamental aspects of matter in the plasma state. They include (1) conduction of electric current, (2) magnetic-field aligned electric fields, (3) acceleration of charged particles to high energy, (4) coupling between magnetic fields and the motion of matter, (5) rapid release of magnetically stored energy, (6) chemical separation, and (7) critical-velocity interaction between plasma and neutral gas.

The interaction of light with the intergalactic plasma produces the Hubble red shift versus distance relationship. This interaction also produces an isotopic long wavelength background radiation from the plasma. Intrinsic red shifts in quasars and other objects are similarly explained, showing why they are exceptions to Hubble's law. Because the red shift is not doppler-shifted, big bang cosmological models should be replaced with static models.

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.

Three-dimensional plasma simulations of interacting galactic-dimensioned current filaments show bursts of synchroton radiation of energy density 1·2 ×10−13 erg/cm3 which can be compared with the measured cosmic microwave background energy density of 1·5 × 10−13 erg/cm3. However, the synchrotron emission observed in the simulations is not blackbody. In this paper, we analyze the absorption of the synchrotron emission by the current filaments themselves (i.e., self-absorption) in order to investigate the thermalization of the emitted radiation. It is found that a large number of current filaments (>1031) are needed to make the radiation spectrum blackbody up to the observed measured frequency of 100 GHz. The radiation spectrum and the required number of current filaments is a strong function of the axial magnetic field in the filaments.

When viewed from outer space, the earth's magnetic field does not resemble a simple dipole, but is severely distorted into a comet-shaped configuration by the continuous flow of solar wind plasma. A complicated system of currents flows within this distorted magnetic field configuration called the ‘magnetosphere’ (See figure 1). For example, the compression of the geomagnetic field by the solar wind on the dayside of the earth is associated with a large-scale current flowing across the geomagnetic field lines, called the ‘Chapman-Ferraro’ or magnetopause current. The magnetospheric system includes large-scale currents that flow in the ‘tail’, the ring current that flows at high altitudes around the equator of the earth, field-aligned ‘Birkeland’ currents that flow along geomagnetic field lines into and away from the two auroral regions, and a complex system of currents that flows completely within the layers of the ionosphere, the earth's ionized atmosphere. The intensities of these various currents reach millions of amperes and are closely related to solar activity. The geomagnetic field lines can also oscillate, like giant vibrating strings, at specified resonant frequencies. The effects of these vibrations, sometimes described as ‘standing Alfvén waves’, have been observed on the ground in magnetic field recordings dating back to the beginning of the century. Observations of currents and waves with satellite-borne magnetic field experiments have provided a new perspective on the complicated plasma processes that occur in the magnetosphere. Some of the new observations are described here.

The process of induced bremsstrahlung is studied and it is found that anisotropy in the electron distribution can lead to the amplification of radiation. The gain rate is ,Λ where ν is the electron-ion collision frequency, ωp and ω the plasma and radiation frequency, and Λ a numerical factor which is positive only for anisotropic distributions.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the MHD equilibrium theory can be used to describe the global magnetic field configuration of Earth's magnetosphere and its time evolution under the influence of magnetospheric convection. The MHD equilibrium theory represents magneto-hydrodynamics in the slow-flow approximation. In this approximation time scales are long compared to typical Alfvén wave travel times, and plasma flow velocities are small compared to the Alfvén speed. Under those conditions, the inertial term ρ(dv/dt) in the MHD equation of motion is a small second order term which can be neglected. The MHD equilibrium theory is not a static theory, though, because time derivatives and flow velocities remain first order quantities in the continuity equation, in the thermodynamic equation of state, and in the induction equation. Therefore one can compute slowly time-dependent processes, such as magnetospheric convection, in terms of series of static equilibrium states. However, those series are not arbitrary; they are constrained by thermodynamic conditions according to which the magnetosphere evolves in time.

It is an interesting question, whether or not the magnetosphere, driven by slow, lossless, adiabatic, earthward convection of magnetotail flux tubes, can reach a steady state. There exist magnetospheric equilibria in which magnetotail flux tubes satisfy the steady-state condition d/dt (Pρ−γ) = 0. Those configurations exhibit a deep magnetic field minimum in the equatorial plane, near the inner edge of the tail plasma sheet. The magnetosphere becomes tearing-mode unstable in the neighborhood of such a minimum, thus leading to periodic onsets of substorms in the inner plasma sheet. This explains why distinct magnetic field minima have not been observed in this region. Magnetic substorms seem to be an inevitable element of the global convection cycle which inhibit the establishment of an ultimate steady state.

MHD equilibria discussed in this paper result from linear and non-linear solutions to the two-dimensional Grad-Shafranov equation for isotropic thermal plasma pressure.

It is demonstrated that finite pressure gradients can be maintained in the lowest free energy state (‘relaxed state’) of a plasma configuration. The pressure forces are supported by the Magnus Force in a compressible adiabatic plasma if mass motions are considered. It has been demonstrated elsewhere that these forces can be of the same order of magnitude as the Lorentz forces in some laboratory plasmas.

Electrical quasi-neutrality is not a general property of a thermalized self-gravitating plasma. If the massive component of a two-component plasma consists of charged macroscopic solid grains for which the charge-to-mass ratio is of order then self-gravitation and thermalization lead to substantial large-scale charge separation. An alternative statement of the condition for substantial equilibrium charge separation is that the Jeans length and Debye length of the plasma are similar.

We consider a system of condensations in such a plasma and show that properties of the system are similar to observed properties of the system of galaxies.

This paper presents an analysis for focusing of an intense proton beam by a self-magnetic field. In this analysis, the self-magnetic field is used in a positive sense for beam focusing. The computation employs an equation for the beam trajectory in which the effect of the self-magnetic field is included. The results show that it is possible to use the self-magnetic field for the good beam focusing.

We have developed a new soft x-ray spectrometer covering the photon energy range 50–500 eV. It employs a free-standing transmission grating coupled to a microchannelplate detector. The performance of the device was tested by using radiation from a synchrotron with a continuous spectrum. The detector shows a rather flat response over most of the useful spectral range, with an abrupt decrease in the sensitivity at the short-wavelength end. Its simplicity of operation makes the device attractive for such applications as the study of soft x-ray emission from laser-produced plasmas.

In terms of energy conservation and vector matching relations, the dynamic process of the second harmonic emission from a laser plasma has been analyzed in this article for the first time. Then, considering the Langmuir wave spectrum which reflects the second harmonic spectrum, we derive the kinetic equation of the Langmuir wave. After a numerical Fourier analysis, the spectrum profiles are obtained, which coincide well with the experiments.

In order to calculate more generally the space-charge limited current between two points of different voltage, modern differential geometrical methods are applied. This problem was first treated by Child (1911) and later by Langmuir (1913). It is possible, for example, to account for effects due to more than one charge component as well as the influence of a neutral background gas (which causes ionization and scattering of charge carriers). A systematic derivation of the self-consistent representation based on a Hamilton theory for density functions is given, and solution methods are discussed. The concept is designed to investigate ion and electron diodes with very intense currents, but it may also be useful for treating space charge problems in a stationary plasma.