Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
From: jfaludi@reed.edu (jfaludi)
Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Subject: plasma vortex model of matter

I have a question for folks regarding some research I'm trying to do...
About a year ago, I was reading a book on cosmology (the book was about
modelling cosmological structures electromagnetically rather than
gravitationally) that mentioned a plasma vortex theory of matter. That
is to say, rather than thinking of all matter as made up of fundamental
particles (whether you're working on the level of
electrons/protons/neutrons or quarks or whatever) you think of matter
as electromagnetic "vortices," consequences of field properties or
fluid dynamics. (Much like the relativistic model of gravition, except
you have charge to deal with, and perhaps more.)

Recently, looking for thesis ideas, I've tried to find published
research using this theory. Apparently this model is not at all
popular--in the last couple months I've been looking for books or
journal articles, I can't for the life of me find anything published on
it. The closest I've gotten is a Very old book (by J.J. Thompson) which
models molecules in roughly this way (though he doesn't call it a
"plasma vortex" model; the catchy name must've come later.)

I would greatly appreciate it if someone could send me a few
references, or at the very least tell me why nobody likes the theory
(references would be preferred, though.)

Please send responses to jfaludi@reed.edu
Thanks.

[NOTE from moderator: Bostick has given a useful summary of plasma
vortices (IEEE Trans. on Plasma Science, PS-14, 703, 1986). Papers
in plasma astrophysics often discuss vortices as can be seen from
the IEEE Trans. special issues on space and cosmic plasmas
(IEEE Trans. on Plasma Science, PS-14, No. 6, Dec. 1986; PS-17,
No. 2, Apr., 1989; PS-18, No. 1, Feb., 1990; PS-20, No. 6, Dec. 1992).
A recent book on "Progress in New Cosmologies: Beyond the Big Bang"
(H. Arp, C. Keys, and K. Rudnicki, editors, Plenum Press, 1983) has
a paper by Eric Lerner who summarizes the case against the big bang.
This paper includes a section on a plasma-oriented alternative (p. 101f)
which discusses the implication of large-scale vortex current filaments.]