You're right about the complexity. Birkeland currents are somewhat counter intuitive. They depend on both attracting and repelling at the same time... here is a diagram of the currents in a plasma:
Now, consider two of these, with opposite flows... they form a double spiral, similar to the DNA spiral... basically forming a circuit.
RightWhale, would you like to join my Electric Universe Ping list? I'd be glad to have you. You seem to have an open mind.
join Sure. Might be interesting. My mind is not exactly open but extremely skeptical. But, skeptical of the mainstream theories as well as alternatives. Cartan would approve if it might mean somebody looking at spinors.