That really does not matter. Flowing electrons will still follow the path of least resistance, they "create" filamentary shapes and channels in the plasma, and they form "double layers' within the plasma. Alfven and other refer to these filaments as "circuits" of energy. The electrical currents form filaments that evacuate the areas directly around the filament creating low density "insulators" within the dusty plasma, and yes, virtually *ALL* (including the photosphere) plasmas are "dusty" to some extent.
The solar atmosphere is plasma. Plasma is a conductor. A discharge cannot occur within a conductor. For a discharge to occur there must be a dielectric medium, an insulator, whose insulating properties break down to the extent that it becomes a conducting path. As Reality Check accurately explained, because of the thermal conditions there is no dust in the plasma of the solar atmosphere that could create such an insulating medium, certainly not on the scale necessary to cause electrical discharges claimed to be, or to be the cause of, solar flares and CMEs.
The insulator is the evacuated area around the filament, [...]
This is an unevidenced, unsupported assertion for which there has been no quantitative objective support provided.
[...] and the subsequent "breakdown" (and circuit topology change) takes place inside the 'explosive double layer" that forms between the filaments/circuits.
Reference to terminology which is apparently exclusive Hannes Alfvén and has become buzzwords for EU cranks and crackpots does not support the claim that electrical discharges are, or are the cause of, solar flares and CMEs.
This material is almost 40 years old. Apparently contemporary solar scientists do not find it compelling enough to accept the premise for inclusion in current solar physics research.
We have already discussed the pathological nature of your denial process. It's based upon NOT reading the papers I've provided and NOT commenting on them at all.
Physics didn't stop moving forward in 1917 when Kristian Birkeland died. It didn't stop progressing in 1979 when Charles Bruce died. It didn't cease in 1995 when Hannes Alfvén died. Much more contemporary reference material exists, but none has been provided to support the claim that electrical discharges are, or are the cause of, solar flares and CMEs.
No, it just requires that you do a little reading from Alfven about "circuits" that form in 'current carrying plasmas". Since you refuse to read his material and/or cite any flaw in his papers or books, we're going around in circles (of pure denial).
The suggestion that I refuse to read Alfvén's material is a lie.
Apparently there is some disagreement on the interpretation and/or the relevance of Alfvén's research. Interestingly the groups that disagree are, on one side, a tiny handful of EU/PC cranks and crackpots who seem to believe Alfvén's PC ideas are worthy of inclusion in contemporary solar science, and on the other, tens of thousands of professional physicists, educators, graduate students, and interested amateur scientists who have studied Alfvén's ideas
and thirty years worth of more current research and who
don't find Alfvén's crackpot PC ideas worthy of serious consideration.
It could be that the EU/PC crackpots are simply unable to present their position in a quantitative, objective way that makes it understandable to contemporary legitimate scientists. Or it could be something in that thirty years worth of more contemporary research has shown Alfvén's PC notions to be obsolete.