Dynamo Action Research Articles

Evolution of amplitude and longitude phase of tachocline Rossby waves diffusing to the photosphere

ABSTRACT Physics of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Rossby waves in the tachocline-layer were studied by Dikpati et al., using a fluid-particle-trajectory approach along with solving vorticity and induction equations. By extending that model to include a hydrodynamic turbulent convection zone (CZ), we examine how MHD Rossby waves generated in the tachocline might diffuse upward through the CZ to solar surface. We find that pure hydrodynamic Rossby wave amplitudes decline with height due to viscous diffusion at a rate that is independent of viscosity and increases with longitude wavenumber. Fast MHD Rossby waves amplitude declines faster with height for increasing toroidal field, due to their longitude-phase shifting with height, which increases dissipation of kinetic energy in the wave velocities. Slow MHD Rossby waves decline even faster with height because their longitude-phase shifts more rapidly with height, due to their slow phase speed. We conclude that low wavenumber HD and fast MHD Rossby waves, originating in the tachocline, might be detected at the photosphere, but slow MHD Rossby waves should be virtually impossible to detect. We infer from fluid particle trajectories that wave amplitudes declining with height and longitude phase shifting with height associated with decline, implies a powerful mechanism for tangling of magnetic fields, distinct from convective turbulence effects. This could cause a sustained or dissipative local dynamo action triggered by Rossby waves.

Thermal and magnetic evolution of an Earth-like planet with a basal magma ocean

Earth's geodynamo has operated for over 3.5 billion years. The magnetic field is currently powered by thermocompositional convection in the outer core, which involves the release of light elements and latent heat as the inner core solidifies. However, since the inner core nucleated no more than 1.5 billion years ago, the early dynamo could not rely on these buoyancy sources. Given recent estimates of the thermal conductivity of the outer core, an alternative mechanism may be required to sustain the geodynamo prior to nucleation of the inner core. One possibility is a silicate dynamo operating in a long-lived basal magma ocean. Here, we investigate the structural, thermal, buoyancy, and magnetic evolution of an Earth-like terrestrial planet. Using modern equations of state and melting curves, we include a time-dependent parameterization of the compositional evolution of an iron-rich basal magma ocean. We combine an internal structure integration of the planet with energy budgets in a coupled core, basal magma ocean, and mantle system. We determine the thermocompositional convective stability of the core and the basal magma ocean, and assess their respective dynamo activity using entropy budgets and magnetic Reynolds numbers. Our conservative nominal model predicts a transient basal magma ocean dynamo followed by a core dynamo after 1 billion years. The model is sensitive to several parameters, including the initial temperature of the core-mantle boundary, the parameterization of mantle convection, the composition of the basal magma ocean, the radiogenic content of the planet, as well as convective velocity and magnetic scaling laws. We use the nominal model to constrain the range of basal magma ocean electrical conductivity and core thermal conductivity that sustain a dynamo. This highlights the importance of constraining the parameters and transport properties that influence planetary evolution using experiments and simulations conducted at pressure, temperature, and composition conditions found in planetary interior, in order to reduce model degeneracies.

Solar internetwork magnetic fields: Statistical comparison between observations and MHD simulations

Although the magnetic fields in the quiet Sun account for the majority of the magnetic energy in the solar photosphere, inferring their exact spatial distribution, origin, and evolution poses an important challenge because the signals lie at the limit of today's instrumental precision. This severely hinders and biases our interpretations, which are mostly made through nonlinear model-fitting approaches. Our goal is to directly compare simulated and observed polarization signals in the Fe I $ angstrom $ and $ angstrom $ spectral lines in the very quiet Sun, the so-called solar internetwork (IN). This way, we aim to constrain the mechanism responsible for the generation of the quiet Sun magnetism while avoiding the biases that plague other diagnostic methods. We used three different three-dimensional radiative magneto-hydrodynamic simulations representing different scenarios of magnetic field generation in the internetwork: small-scale dynamo, decay of active regions, and horizontal flux emergence. We synthesized Stokes profiles at different viewing angles and degraded them according to the instrumental specifications of the spectro-polarimeter (SP) on board the Hinode satellite. Finally, we statistically compared the simulated spectra to the Hinode/SOT/SP observations at the appropriate viewing angles. Of the three simulations, the small-scale dynamo best reproduced the statistical properties of the observed polarization signals. This is especially prominent for the disk center viewing geometry, where the agreement is excellent. Moving toward more inclined lines of sight, the agreement worsens slightly. The agreement between the small-scale dynamo simulation and observations at the disk center suggests that small-scale dynamo action plays an important role in the generation of quiet Sun magnetism. However, the magnetic field around 50 km above the continuum layer in this simulation does not reproduce observations as well as at the very base of the photosphere.

Magnetic field morphology and evolution in the Central Molecular Zone and its effect on gas dynamics

The interstellar medium in the Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) is known to be strongly magnetised, but its large-scale morphology and impact on the gas dynamics are not well understood. We explore the impact and properties of magnetic fields in the CMZ using three-dimensional non-self gravitating magnetohydrodynamical simulations of gas flow in an external Milky Way barred potential. We find that: (1) The magnetic field is conveniently decomposed into a regular time-averaged component and an irregular turbulent component. The regular component aligns well with the velocity vectors of the gas everywhere, including within the bar lanes. (2) The field geometry transitions from parallel to the Galactic plane near $z=0$ to poloidal away from the plane. (3) The magneto-rotational instability (MRI) causes an in-plane inflow of matter from the CMZ gas ring towards the central few parsecs of $0.01 that is absent in the unmagnetised simulations. However, the magnetic fields have no significant effect on the larger-scale bar-driven inflow that brings the gas from the Galactic disc into the CMZ. (4) A combination of bar inflow and MRI-driven turbulence can sustain a turbulent vertical velocity dispersion of $ on scales of $20 in the CMZ ring. The MRI alone sustains a velocity dispersion of $ Both these numbers are lower than the observed velocity dispersion of gas in the CMZ, suggesting that other processes such as stellar feedback are necessary to explain the observations. (5) Dynamo action driven by differential rotation and the MRI amplifies the magnetic fields in the CMZ ring until they saturate at a value that scales with the average local density as $B 102 \, (n/10^3 \ G $. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results within the observational context in the CMZ.

The direction of core solidification in asteroids: Implications for dynamo generation

Paleomagnetic studies of meteorites over the past two decades have revealed that the cores of multiple meteorite parent bodies, including those of certain chondritic groups, generated dynamo fields as they crystallised. However, uncertainties in the direction and mode of core solidification in asteroid-sized bodies have meant using the timings and durations of these fields to constrain parent body properties, such as size, is challenging. Here, we use updated equations of state and liquidus relationships for Fe-FeS liquids at low pressures to calculate the locations at which solids form in these cores. We perform these calculations for core-mantle boundary (CMB) pressures from 0–2 GPa, and Fe-FeS liquid concentrations on the iron-rich side of the eutectic, as well as two values of iron thermal expansivity that cover the measured uncertainties in this parameter, and adiabatic and conductive cooling of these cores. We predict inward core crystallisation from the CMB in asteroids due to their low < 0.5 GPa pressures regardless of the uncertainties in other key core parameters. However, due to low internal pressures in these cores, remelting of any iron snow, as proposed to generate Ganymede’s present-day field, may be unlikely as the cores are approximately isothermal. Therefore a different mode of inward core solidification is possibly required to explain compositionally-driven dynamo action in asteroids. Additionally, we identify possible regimes at higher > 0.6 − 2 GPa pressures in which crystallisation can occur concurrently at the CMB and the centre.

Paleomagnetic field variability and revised chronostratigraphy of bering sea (IODP ex. 323) deep-sea sediments during MIS 8-10

This paper develops three composite paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) records (directions and relative paleointensity) for MIS 8–10 (243–375 ka) from IODP Ex. 323 Sites 1343, 1344, and 1345 in the Bering Sea. There are 79 inclination features and 74 declination features in each of these records that can be correlated among them. Oxygen isotope records and correlation of our Bering Sea paleointensity records to the oxygen-isotope dated global PISO-1500 paleointensity record provide a detailed chronostratigraphy for our three sites with an uncertainty of ∼±2000 years. There are two excursions recorded reproducibly in our PSV records, the Portuguese Orphan Excursion (286 ± 2 ka) and the Calabrian Ridge Excursion (326 ± 2 ka). Both of these excursions have only short intervals (less than 500 years) of excursional directions. Both excursions have simple open looping of the directions. The Portuguese Orphan excursion has counter-clockwise (CC) looping, while the Calabrian Ridge Excursion has clockwise (C) looping. Statistical study of the PSV after removal of all excursional directions has been carried in overlapping 3-ky and 9-ky intervals. We have identified two distinctive features of the long-term secular variation. First, the ‘normal’ PSV has coherent long-term variability noted by several successive 9-ky inclination or declination averages distinct from overall averages. These persistent >104 ky variations indicate long-term memory in the regional pattern of dynamo activity. Such memory is not consistent with persistent millennial-scale drift of the Earth's magnetic field. Second, PSV angular dispersion (a measure of directional variability) is quite low (∼15°) for ∼75% of the MIS 8–10 time interval. But angular dispersion more than doubles (∼35°) in three short intervals around 265–272 ka, 283–295 ka, and 307–325 ka. The onset and termination of these three high-angular-dispersion intervals occurs fast (∼103 yrs). These same three high-angular-dispersion intervals also occur almost synchronously in the North Atlantic Ocean (Lund, 2022). These high-angular-dispersion intervals are also intervals in which excursions occur in both regions and are associated with relatively low paleointensity. We think this constitutes a distinctive bimodal pattern to overall pattern to Global secular variation in the Brunhes Chron.

Magnetic braking below the cataclysmic variable period gap and the observed dearth of period bouncers

Period bouncers are cataclysmic variables (CVs) that have evolved past their orbital period minimum. The strong disagreement between theory and observations of the relative fraction of period bouncers is a severe shortcoming in the understanding of CV evolution. We test the implications of the hypothesis that magnetic braking (MB), which is suggested to be an additional angular momentum loss (AML) mechanism for CVs below the period gap ($P_ orb 120$ min), weakens around their period minimum. We computed the evolution of CV donors below the period gap using the MESA code, assuming that the evolution of the system is driven by AML black due to gravitational wave radiation (GWR) and MB. We parametrised the MB strength as $ AML_ MB AML_ GWR black We computed two qualitatively different sets of models, one in which kappa is a constant and another in which kappa depends on stellar parameters in such a way that the value of kappa decreases as the CV approaches the period minimum ($P_ orb min), beyond which $ approx0$. We find that black two crucial effects drive the latter set of models. (1) A decrease in kappa as CVs approach the period minimum stalls their evolution so that they spend a long time in the observed period minimum spike ($80 P_ orb min Here, they become difficult to distinguish from pre-bounce systems in the spike. (2) A strong decrease in the mass-transfer rate makes them virtually undetectable as they evolve further. So, the CV stalls around the period minimum and then `disappears'. This reduces the number of detectable bouncers. Physical processes, such as dynamo action, white dwarf magnetism, and dead zones, may cause such a weakening of MB at short orbital periods. The weakening MB formalism black provides a possible solution to the problem of the dearth of black detectable period bouncers in CV observational surveys.

Dynamo action driven by precessional turbulence.

We reveal and analyze an efficient magnetic dynamo action due to precession-driven hydrodynamic turbulence in the local model of a precessional flow, focusing on the kinematic stage of this dynamo. The growth rate of the magnetic field monotonically increases with the Poincaré number Po, characterizing precession strength, and the magnetic Prandtl number Pm, equal to the ratio of viscosity to resistivity, for the considered ranges of these parameters. The critical Po_{c} for the dynamo onset decreases with increasing Pm. To understand the scale-by-scale evolution (growth) of the precession dynamo and its driving processes, we perform spectral analysis by calculating the spectra of magnetic energy and of different terms in the induction equationin Fourier space. To this end, we decompose the velocity field of precession-driven turbulence into two-dimensional (2D) vortical and three-dimensional (3D) inertial wave modes. It is shown that the dynamo operates across a broad range of scales and exhibits a remarkable transition from a primarily vortex-driven regime at lower Po to a more complex regime at higher Po where it is driven jointly by vortices, inertial waves, and the shear of the background precessional flow. Vortices and shear drive the dynamo mostly at large scales comparable to the flow system size, and at intermediate scales, while at smaller scales it is mainly driven by inertial waves. This study can be important not only for understanding the magnetic dynamo action in precession-driven flows, but also in a general context of flows where vortices emerge and govern the flow dynamics and evolution.

A parametric study of precession driven dynamos inside a sphere

The dynamo actions of an electrically conducting fluid in a precessing sphere are investigated over a wide range of parameters by direct numerical simulation using a Galerkin spectral method. The focus of this work is to identify the most promising parameter regimes for the dynamo action and to investigate the characteristics of the magnetic field generated by precession. The influence of different nutation angles (30°,60°,90°) and different precession ratios on the ability to drive dynamo action are investigated. The optimal angle for dynamo actions is found at 90°, followed by 60° with retrograde precession. A moderate precession ratio around 0.3 is shown to be more feasible for dynamo actions. A rich set of self-sustained dynamo solutions are obtained in the parameter space we explored, including steady, periodic, quasi-periodic, and turbulent dynamos. The structure of the generated magnetic fields is analyzed by using helical wave decomposition. None of the precession driven dynamos we obtained produce a predominantly dipolar field, contrary to the convection driven dynamos. The long-time evolution of the magnetic dipole moment is investigated and different types of polarity reversals are observed.

Toward Cosmological Simulations of the Magnetized Intracluster Medium with Resolved Coulomb Collision Scale

We present the first results of one extremely high-resolution, nonradiative magnetohydrodynamical cosmological zoom-in simulation of a massive cluster with a virial mass of M vir = 2.0 × 1015 solar masses. We adopt a mass resolution of 4 × 105 M ⊙ with a maximum spatial resolution of around 250 pc in the central regions of the cluster. We follow the detailed amplification process in a resolved small-scale turbulent dynamo in the intracluster medium (ICM) with strong exponential growth until redshift 4, after which the field grows weakly in the adiabatic compression limit until redshift 2. The energy in the field is slightly reduced as the system approaches redshift zero in agreement with adiabatic decompression. The field structure is highly turbulent in the center and shows field reversals on a length scale of a few tens of kiloparsecs and an anticorrelation between the radial and angular field components in the central region that is ordered by small-scale turbulent dynamo action. The large-scale field on megaparsec scales is almost isotropic, indicating that the structure formation process in massive galaxy cluster formation suppresses any memory of both the initial field configuration and the amplified morphology via the turbulent dynamo. We demonstrate that extremely high-resolution simulations of the magnetized ICM are within reach that can simultaneously resolve the small-scale magnetic field structure, which is of major importance for the injection of and transport of cosmic rays in the ICM. This work is a major cornerstone for follow-up studies with an on-the-fly treatment of cosmic rays to model in detail electron-synchrotron and gamma-ray emissions.

CONGRuENTS (COsmic-ray, Neutrino, Gamma-ray and Radio Non-Thermal Spectra) – II. Population-level correlations between galactic infrared, radio, and γ-ray emission

ABSTRACT Galaxies obey a number of empirical correlations between their radio, γ-ray, and infrared emission, but the physical origins of these correlations remain uncertain. Here, we use the CONGRuENTS model for broad-band non-thermal emission from star-forming galaxies, which self-consistently calculates energy-dependent transport and non-thermal emission from cosmic ray hadrons and leptons, to predict radio and γ-ray emission for a synthetic galaxy population with properties drawn from a large deep-field survey. We show that our synthetic galaxies reproduce observed relations such as the far infrared (FIR)–radio correlation, the FIR–γ correlation, and the distribution of radio spectral indices, and we use the model to explain the physical origins of these relations. Our results show that the FIR–radio correlation arises because the amount of cosmic ray electron power ultimately radiated as synchrotron emission varies only weakly with galaxy star formation rate as a result of the constraints imposed on gas properties by hydrostatic balance and turbulent dynamo action; the same physics dictates the extent of proton calorimetry in different galaxies, and thus sets the FIR–γ–ray correlation. We further show that galactic radio spectral indices result primarily from competition between thermal free–free emission and energy-dependent loss of cosmic ray electrons to bremsstrahlung and escape into galactic haloes, with shaping of the spectrum by inverse Compton, synchrotron, and ionization processes typically playing a subdominant role. In addition to explaining existing observations, we use our analysis to predict a heretofore unseen correlation between the curvature of galaxies’ radio spectra and their pion-driven γ-ray emission, a prediction that will be testable with upcoming facilities.

MRI turbulence in vertically stratified accretion discs at large magnetic Prandtl numbers

ABSTRACT The discovery of the first binary neutron star merger, GW170817, has spawned a plethora of global numerical relativity simulations. These simulations are often ideal (with dissipation determined by the grid) and/or axisymmetric (invoking ad hoc mean-field dynamos). However, binary neutron star mergers (similar to X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei inner discs) are characterized by large magnetic Prandtl numbers, $\rm Pm$, (the ratio of viscosity to resistivity). $\rm Pm$ is a key parameter determining dynamo action and dissipation but it is ill-defined (and likely of order unity) in ideal simulations. To bridge this gap, we investigate the magnetorotational instability (MRI) and associated dynamo at large magnetic Prandtl numbers using fully compressible, three-dimensional, vertically stratified, isothermal simulations of a local patch of a disc. We find that, within the bulk of the disc (z ≲ 2H, where H is the scale-height), the turbulent intensity (parametrized by the stress-to-thermal-pressure ratio α), and the saturated magnetic field energy density, Emag, produced by the MRI dynamo, both scale as a power with Pm at moderate Pm (4 ≲ Pm ≲ 32): Emag ∼ Pm0.74 and α ∼ Pm0.71, respectively. At larger Pm (≳ 32), we find deviations from power-law scaling and the onset of a plateau. Compared to our recent unstratified study, this scaling with Pm becomes weaker further away from the disc mid-plane, where the Parker instability dominates. We perform a thorough spectral analysis to understand the underlying dynamics of small-scale MRI-driven turbulence in the mid-plane and of large-scale Parker-unstable structures in the atmosphere.

How well does surface magnetism represent deep Sun-like star dynamo action?

Context. For Sun-like stars, the generation of toroidal magnetic field from poloidal magnetic field is an essential piece of the dynamo mechanism powering their magnetism. Previous authors have estimated the net toroidal flux generated in each hemisphere of the Sun by exploiting its conservative nature. This only requires observations of the photospheric magnetic field and surface differential rotation. Aims. We explore this approach using a 3D magnetohydrodynamic dynamo simulation of a cool star, for which the magnetic field and its generation are precisely known throughout the entire star. Methods. Changes to the net toroidal flux in each hemisphere were evaluated using a closed line integral bounding the cross-sectional area of each hemisphere, following the application of Stokes theorem to the induction equation; the individual line segments correspond to the stellar surface, base, equator, and rotation axis. We evaluated the influence of the large-scale flows, the fluctuating flows, and magnetic diffusion on each of the line segments, along with their depth-dependence. Results. In the simulation, changes to the net toroidal flux via the surface line segment typically dominate the total line integral surrounding each hemisphere, with smaller contributions from the equator and rotation axis. The surface line integral is governed primarily by the large-scale flows, and the diffusive current; the latter acting like a flux emergence term due to the use of an impenetrable upper boundary in the simulation. The bulk of the toroidal flux is generated deep inside the convection zone, with the surface observables capturing this due to the conservative nature of the net flux. Conclusions. Surface magnetism and rotation can be used to produce an estimate of the net toroidal flux generated in each hemisphere, allowing us to constrain the reservoir of magnetic flux for the next magnetic cycle. However, this methodology cannot identify the physical origin or the location of the toroidal flux generation. In addition, not all dynamo mechanisms depend on the net toroidal field produced in each hemisphere, meaning this method may not be able to characterise every magnetic cycle.

Role of partial stable stratification on fluid flow and heat transfer in rotating thermal convection

The liquid iron core of the Earth undergoes vigorous convection driven by thermal and compositional buoyancy. The dynamics of convective fluid motions and heat transfer in such conditions are determined by background rotation, geometrical symmetry, and thermal interactions across the boundaries. In this study, rotating thermal convection in a horizontal fluid layer is considered to understand the fluid flow characteristics in the Earth's outer core focusing on the regions close to the rotational axis. The effects of a partial stable stratification on fluid flow and heat transfer are investigated to ascertain the physical significance of thermal core–mantle interaction on geomagnetic field generation driven by core fluid motion. It is found that even with non-linear evolution, convective instabilities retain the fundamental characteristics of linear onset modes. Mildly supercritical regimes lead to near laminar flows with the transition to turbulent convection occurring for strongly driven convection around 50–100 times enhanced buoyancy. Axial symmetry breaking and preferential damping of small-scale vortical structures are the hallmark of penetrative convection. Rapid rotation sustains small-scale helical flows in stable regions, a necessary ingredient for the sustenance of Earthlike dipolar magnetic fields. Coherent flow structures for strongly turbulent convection are obtained using reduced-order modeling. The overall total heat transfer is suppressed (up to 25%) due to the stable stratification although convective efficiency is enhanced (up to 30%) in the unstable regions favored by rapid rotation. Flow suppression is overcome under strong buoyancy forces, a relevant dynamical regime for deep-seated dynamo action in the Earth's core.

Angular momentum and chemical transport by azimuthal magnetorotational instability in radiative stellar interiors

Context. The transport of angular momentum and chemical elements within evolving stars remains poorly understood. Asteroseismic and spectroscopic observations of low-mass main sequence stars and red giants reveal that their radiative cores rotate orders of magnitude slower than classical predictions from stellar evolution models and that the abundances of their surface light elements are too small. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is considered a primary mechanism to enhance the transport in radiative stellar interiors but its efficiency is still largely uncertain. Aims. We explore the transport of angular momentum and chemical elements due to azimuthal magnetorotational instability, one of the dominant instabilities expected in differentially rotating radiative stellar interiors. Methods. We employed 3D MHD direct numerical simulations in a spherical shell of unstratified and stably stratified flows under the Boussinesq approximation. The background differential rotation was maintained by a volumetric body force. We examined the transport of chemical elements using a passive scalar. Results. We provide evidence of magnetorotational instability for purely azimuthal magnetic fields in the parameter regime expected from local and global linear stability analyses. Without stratification and when the Reynolds number Re and the background azimuthal field strength are large enough, we observed dynamo action driven by the instability at values of the magnetic Prandtl number Pm in the range 0.6 − 1, which is the smallest ever reported in a global setup. When considering stable stratification at Pm = 1, the turbulence is transitional and becomes less homogeneous and isotropic upon increasing buoyancy effects. The transport of angular momentum occurs radially outward and is dominated by the Maxwell stresses when stratification is large enough. We find that the turbulent viscosity decreases when buoyancy effects strengthen and scales with the square root of the ratio of the reference rotation rate Ωa to the Brunt–Väisälä frequency N. The chemical turbulent diffusion coefficient scales with stratification similarly to the turbulent viscosity, but is lower in amplitude so that the transport of chemicals is slower than the one of angular momentum, in agreement with recent stellar evolution models of low-mass stars. Conclusions. We show that the transport induced by azimuthal magnetorotational instability scales somewhat slowly with stratification and may enforce rigid rotations of red giant cores on a timescale of a few thousand years. In agreement with recent stellar evolution models of low-mass stars, the instability transports chemical elements less efficiently than angular momentum.

Tracking dynamo mechanisms from local energy transfers: Application to the von Kármán sodium dynamo

Motivated by the observation that dynamo is a conversion mechanism between kinetic and magnetic energy, we develop a new approach to unravel dynamo mechanism based on local (in space, scale, and time) energy budget describing dissipation and scale-by-scale energy transfers. Our approach is based upon a new filtering approach that can be used effectively for any type of meshes, including unstructured ones. The corresponding formalism is very general and applies to any geometry or boundary conditions. We further discuss the interpretation of these energy transfers in the context of fast dynamo and anomalous dissipation. We apply it to the results from direct numerical simulations of the von Kármán Sodium setup (referred to as VKS) using a finite element code, showing dynamo action for two types of impellers (steel or soft iron) in the magnetic field growth and saturation phases. Although the two types of dynamo hardly differ from the mean-field theory point of view (the velocity fields are the same in both cases), the locality of our formalism allows us to trace the origin of the differences between these two types of dynamo: for steel impellers, the dynamo is due to the transfer of velocity energy both in the bulk and in the vicinity of the impellers, whereas for soft iron impellers, the dynamo effect mainly comes from the rotation of the blades. We finally discuss possible signatures of precursors to anomalous dissipation and fast dynamo, which could become relevant in the inviscid limit.

On the role of numerical diffusivity in MHD simulations of global accretion disc dynamos

Observations, mainly of outbursts in dwarf novae, imply that the anomalous viscosity in highly ionized accretion discs is magnetic in origin and requires that the plasma ${\beta \sim 1}$ . Until now, most simulations of the magnetic dynamo in accretion discs have used a local approximation (known as the shearing box). While these simulations demonstrate the possibility of a self-sustaining dynamo, the magnetic activity generated in these models saturates at $\beta \gg 1$ . This long-standing discrepancy has previously been attributed to the local approximation itself. There have been recent attempts at simulating magnetic activity in global accretion discs with parameters relevant to the dwarf novae. These too find values of $\beta \gg 1$ . We speculate that the tension between these models and the observations may be caused by numerical magnetic diffusivity. As a pedagogical example, we present exact time-dependent solutions for the evolution of weak magnetic fields in an incompressible fluid subject to linear shear and magnetic diffusivity. We find that the maximum factor by which the initial magnetic energy can be increased depends on the magnetic Reynolds number as ${\mathcal {R}}_{m}^{2/3}$ . We estimate that current global numerical simulations of dwarf nova discs have numerical magnetic Reynolds numbers around six orders of magnitude less than the physical value found in dwarf nova discs of ${\mathcal {R}}_{m} \sim 10^{10}$ . We suggest that, given the current limitations on computing power, expecting to be able to compute realistic dynamo action in observable accretion discs using numerical MHD is, for the time being, a step too far.

Modeling reversals of galactic magnetic fields at large distances from centers of milky-way-like galaxies using computations on GPUs

Nowadays it is strongly believed that in a large number of spiral galaxies there are regular magnetic fields. Their existence is proved by measurements of the Faraday rotation of polarization plane of electromagnetic waves which are received on modern radio telescopes. The theoretical description of magnetic fields generation is connected with the mean field dynamo mechanism. It is based on joint action of the ?-effect and differential rotation. At the first stage of evolution, magnetic fields enlarge exponentially with the growth rate described by the largest eigenvalue of the corresponding differential operator. If the field becomes comparable with the equipartition value, the nonlinear terms become more important, and they are connected with saturation of the field growth. The non-linear system of equations has several stationary points, and some of them are stable. According to the contrast structures theory for a quite small turbulent viscosity and some initial conditions, in different regions there will be magnetic fields of opposite directions, and they will be divided by narrow transition layers. Such features, for example, characterize the magnetic field of the Milky Way. Most of the existing works describe reversals for quite moderate distances from the galaxy center. However, it was shown previously that the magnetic field can principally be generated also in outer parts of galaxies, which are situated at distances of more than 10 kpc from the rotation axis. It is interesting to describe the appearance of reversals in such parts of galaxies. In this work we have studied the dynamo action in outer parts of the Milky-Way-like galaxies. It is shown that it is possible to generate opposite magnetic fields there. We have used random initial conditions to obtain spatial reversals. Because of a large volume of computations, they were carried out by using graphics processing units (GPUs).

Critical magnetic Reynolds number of the turbulent dynamo in collisionless plasmas

ABSTRACT The intracluster medium of galaxy clusters is an extremely hot and diffuse, nearly collisionless plasma, which hosts dynamically important magnetic fields of ∼μG strength. Seed magnetic fields of much weaker strength of astrophysical or primordial origin can be present in the intracluster medium. In collisional plasmas, which can be approximated in the magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) limit, the turbulent dynamo mechanism can amplify weak seed fields to strong dynamical levels efficiently by converting turbulent kinetic energy into magnetic energy. However, the viability of this mechanism in weakly collisional or completely collisionless plasma is much less understood. In this study, we explore the properties of the collisionless turbulent dynamo using three-dimensional hybrid-kinetic particle-in-cell simulations. We explore the properties of the collisionless turbulent dynamo in the kinematic regime for different values of the magnetic Reynolds number, Rm, initial magnetic-to-kinetic energy ratio, (Emag/Ekin)i, and initial Larmor ratio, (rLarmor/Lbox)i, i.e. the ratio of the Larmor radius to the size of the turbulent system. We find that in the ‘un-magnetized’ regime, (rLarmor/Lbox)i &amp;gt; 1, the critical magnetic Reynolds number for the dynamo action Rmcrit ≈ 107 ± 3. In the ‘magnetized’ regime, (rLarmor/Lbox)i ≲ 1, we find a marginally higher Rmcrit = 124 ± 8. We find that the growth rate of the magnetic energy does not depend on the strength of the seed magnetic field when the initial magnetization is fixed. We also study the distribution and evolution of the pressure anisotropy in the collisionless plasma and compare our results with the MHD turbulent dynamo.

A Laboratory Model for Iron Snow in Planetary Cores

AbstractSolidification of the cores of small planets and moons is thought to occur in the “iron snow” regime, in which iron crystals form near the core‐mantle boundary and fall until re‐melting at greater depth. The resulting buoyancy flux may sustain convection and dynamo action. This regime of crystallization is poorly understood. Here we present the first laboratory experiments designed to model iron snow. We find that solidification happens in a cyclic pattern, with intense solidification bursts separated by crystal‐free periods. This is explained by the necessity of reaching a finite amount of supercooling to re‐initiate crystallization once the crystals formed earlier have migrated away. When scaled to planetary cores, our results suggest that crystallization and the associated buoyancy flux would be strongly heterogeneous in time and space, which eventually impacts the time variability and geometry of the magnetic field.