Magnetic buoyancy in the Sun

Nature ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 277 (5691) ◽  
pp. 41-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. ACHESON
Keyword(s):  
The Sun ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 187-189
Author(s):  
V.N. Krivodubskij ◽  
A.E. Dudorov ◽  
A.A. Ruzmaikin ◽  
T.V. Ruzmaikina

Analysis of the fine structure of the solar oscillations has enabled us to determine the internal rotation of the Sun and to estimate the magnitude of the large-scale magnetic field inside the Sun. According to the data of Duvall et al. (1984), the core of the Sun rotates about twice as fast as the solar surface. Recently Dziembowski et al. (1989) have showed that there is a sharp radial gradient in the Sun’s rotation at the base of the convection zone, near the boundary with the radiative interior. It seems to us that the sharp radial gradients of the angular velocity near the core of the Sun and at the base of the convection zone, acting on the relict poloidal magnetic field Br, must excite an intense toroidal field Bф, that can compensate for the loss of the magnetic field due to magnetic buoyancy.


Author(s):  
V. Krivodubskij

Since the mid-70s of the last century, a new direction in theoretical studies of the evolution of the global magnetism of the Sun in the framework of macroscopic MHD has been launched at the Astronomical Observatory of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The paper presents the results of a study of the processes of generation and restructuring of a large-scale (global) magnetic field based on the αΩ-dynamo model, taking into account new turbulent effects discovered in the theory of macroscopic MHD and data of helioseismological experiments on the internal rotation of the Sun. It was established that a sharp radial gradient of turbulent velocity in the lower half of the solar convective zone (SCZ) leads to a change in the sign of the azimuthal component of the helicity parameter α, resulting in the formation of a relatively thin layer of negative α-effect near the bottom of the SCZ. It was found that the layer of negative α-effect, together with the sign of the radial gradient of the angular velocity, detected in helioseismological experiments, makes it possible to explain the direction of migration of dynamo-waves on the solar surface. The magnetic saturation of the α-effect (alpha-quenching) in the deep layers of the SCZ was calculated. An explanation of the protracted duration of the 23rd solar cycle of about 13 years is proposed. For this, we used the observed data on a significant increase of the annual module of the magnetic fields of sunspots in the 23rd cycle. The calculated north-south asymmetry of the structure of the global magnetic field provides an opportunity to explain the phenomenon of the seeming magnetic “monopole”, which is observed during reversal of polar magnetism. It was found that the values of turbulent electrical conductivity and turbulent magnetic permeability of the solar plasma are significantly less than the corresponding gas-kinetic parameters. Therefore, the turbulent dissipation of solar magnetic fields is enhanced by 4–9 orders of magnitude compared with classical ohmic dissipation. Macroscopic turbulent diamagnetism of solar plasma was investigated. It has been found that in the lower part of the SCZ, turbulent diamagnetism acts against magnetic buoyancy, thus fulfilling the role of “negative magnetic buoyancy”. As a result of the balance of the effects of magnetic buoyancy and turbulent diamagnetism, a layer of blocked magnetic field of magnitude ≈ 3000 G is formed in the depths of the SCZ. The turbulent advection of a magnetic field in an inhomogeneous plasma density of the SCZ was studied. It was found that in the lower half of the SCZ of the equatorial domain, turbulent advection is directed upwards. As a result of the combined action of magnetic buoyancy and turbulent advection, deep strong toroidal fields are carried to the surface of the Sun in the latitudinal “royal zone” of sunspots. The role of horizontal turbulent diamagnetism in ensuring the long-term stability of sunspots was noted. To explain the observed phenomenon of double maxima of the solar spot cycle, a scenario was developed containing the generation of a magnetic field in the tachocline at the bottom of the SCZ and subsequent removal of this magnetic field from the depth layers to the surface in the latitudinal “royal zone”. The role of the radial omega-effect in the radiant zone in explaining the observed asymmetry in the amplitude of two neighbouring 11-years sunspot cycles was noted.


1990 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 57-57
Author(s):  
V.N. Krivodubskij

The evolution of the large-scale toroidal magnetic field Bϕ of the Sun generating in the radiative zone by acts of differential rotation on the relict radial magnetic field Bϕ is investigated regarding the magnetic buoyancy and ohmic dissipation.


1966 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 40-43
Author(s):  
O. C. Wilson ◽  
A. Skumanich

Evidence previously presented by one of the authors (1) suggests strongly that chromospheric activity decreases with age in main sequence stars. This tentative conclusion rests principally upon a comparison of the members of large clusters (Hyades, Praesepe, Pleiades) with non-cluster objects in the general field, including the Sun. It is at least conceivable, however, that cluster and non-cluster stars might differ in some fundamental fashion which could influence the degree of chromospheric activity, and that the observed differences in chromospheric activity would then be attributable to the circumstances of stellar origin rather than to age.


1966 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
Richard Woolley

It is now possible to determine proper motions of high-velocity objects in such a way as to obtain with some accuracy the velocity vector relevant to the Sun. If a potential field of the Galaxy is assumed, one can compute an actual orbit. A determination of the velocity of the globular clusterωCentauri has recently been completed at Greenwich, and it is found that the orbit is strongly retrograde in the Galaxy. Similar calculations may be made, though with less certainty, in the case of RR Lyrae variable stars.


1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 761-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Maccone

AbstractSETI from space is currently envisaged in three ways: i) by large space antennas orbiting the Earth that could be used for both VLBI and SETI (VSOP and RadioAstron missions), ii) by a radiotelescope inside the Saha far side Moon crater and an Earth-link antenna on the Mare Smythii near side plain. Such SETIMOON mission would require no astronaut work since a Tether, deployed in Moon orbit until the two antennas landed softly, would also be the cable connecting them. Alternatively, a data relay satellite orbiting the Earth-Moon Lagrangian pointL2would avoid the Earthlink antenna, iii) by a large space antenna put at the foci of the Sun gravitational lens: 1) for electromagnetic waves, the minimal focal distance is 550 Astronomical Units (AU) or 14 times beyond Pluto. One could use the huge radio magnifications of sources aligned to the Sun and spacecraft; 2) for gravitational waves and neutrinos, the focus lies between 22.45 and 29.59 AU (Uranus and Neptune orbits), with a flight time of less than 30 years. Two new space missions, of SETI interest if ET’s use neutrinos for communications, are proposed.


1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 707-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Jugaku ◽  
Shiro Nishimura

AbstractWe continued our search for partial (incomplete) Dyson spheres associated with 50 solar-type stars (spectral classes F, G, and K) within 25 pc of the Sun. No candidate objects were found.


2000 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 387-388
Author(s):  
Gaetano Belvedere ◽  
V. V. Pipin ◽  
G. Rüdiger

Extended AbstractRecent numerical simulations lead to the result that turbulence is much more magnetically driven than believed. In particular the role ofmagnetic buoyancyappears quite important for the generation ofα-effect and angular momentum transport (Brandenburg & Schmitt 1998). We present results obtained for a turbulence field driven by a (given) Lorentz force in a non-stratified but rotating convection zone. The main result confirms the numerical findings of Brandenburg & Schmitt that in the northern hemisphere theα-effect and the kinetic helicityℋkin= 〈u′ · rotu′〉 are positive (and negative in the northern hemisphere), this being just opposite to what occurs for the current helicityℋcurr= 〈j′ ·B′〉, which is negative in the northern hemisphere (and positive in the southern hemisphere). There has been an increasing number of papers presenting observations of current helicity at the solar surface, all showing that it isnegativein the northern hemisphere and positive in the southern hemisphere (see Rüdigeret al. 2000, also for a review).


2000 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 263-264
Author(s):  
K. Sundara Raman ◽  
K. B. Ramesh ◽  
R. Selvendran ◽  
P. S. M. Aleem ◽  
K. M. Hiremath

Extended AbstractWe have examined the morphological properties of a sigmoid associated with an SXR (soft X-ray) flare. The sigmoid is cospatial with the EUV (extreme ultra violet) images and in the optical part lies along an S-shaped Hαfilament. The photoheliogram shows flux emergence within an existingδtype sunspot which has caused the rotation of the umbrae giving rise to the sigmoidal brightening.It is now widely accepted that flares derive their energy from the magnetic fields of the active regions and coronal levels are considered to be the flare sites. But still a satisfactory understanding of the flare processes has not been achieved because of the difficulties encountered to predict and estimate the probability of flare eruptions. The convection flows and vortices below the photosphere transport and concentrate magnetic field, which subsequently appear as active regions in the photosphere (Rust & Kumar 1994 and the references therein). Successive emergence of magnetic flux, twist the field, creating flare productive magnetic shear and has been studied by many authors (Sundara Ramanet al.1998 and the references therein). Hence, it is considered that the flare is powered by the energy stored in the twisted magnetic flux tubes (Kurokawa 1996 and the references therein). Rust & Kumar (1996) named the S-shaped bright coronal loops that appear in soft X-rays as ‘Sigmoids’ and concluded that this S-shaped distortion is due to the twist developed in the magnetic field lines. These transient sigmoidal features tell a great deal about unstable coronal magnetic fields, as these regions are more likely to be eruptive (Canfieldet al.1999). As the magnetic fields of the active regions are deep rooted in the Sun, the twist developed in the subphotospheric flux tube penetrates the photosphere and extends in to the corona. Thus, it is essentially favourable for the subphotospheric twist to unwind the twist and transmit it through the photosphere to the corona. Therefore, it becomes essential to make complete observational descriptions of a flare from the magnetic field changes that are taking place in different atmospheric levels of the Sun, to pin down the energy storage and conversion process that trigger the flare phenomena.


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