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Resistive tearing instabilities are common in fluids that are highly electrically conductive and carry strong currents. We determine the effect of stable stratification on the tearing instability under the Boussinesq approximation. Our results generalise previous work that considered only specific parameter regimes, and we show that the length scale of the fastest-growing mode depends non-monotonically on the stratification strength. We confirm our analytical results by solving the linearised equations numerically, and we discuss whether the instability could operate in the solar tachocline.
The short timescale of the solar flare reconnection process has long proved to be a puzzle. Recent studies suggest the importance of the formation of plasmoids in the reconnecting current sheet, with quantifying the aspect ratio of the width to length of the current sheet in terms of a negative power $ \alpha $ of the Lundquist number, that is, $ {S}^{-\alpha } $, being key to understanding the onset of plasmoids formation. In this paper, we make the first application of theoretical scalings for this aspect ratio to observed flares to evaluate how plasmoid formation may connect with observations. For three different flares that show plasmoids we find a range of $ \alpha $ values of $ \alpha =0.26 $ to $ 0.31 $. The values in this small range implies that plasmoids may be forming before the theoretically predicted critical aspect ratio ($ \alpha =1/3 $) has been reached, potentially presenting a challenge for the theoretical models.
Alfvénic waves are regarded as an important process in understanding coronal heating, solar wind acceleration, and the fractionization of low first-ionization-potential (FIP) elements. Recently, significant progresses have been made in the detection of propagating Alfvénic waves in the solar chromosphere using two different methods: the imaging method and the spectroscopic method. The imaging method detects Alfvénic waves that oscillate in the direction perpendicular to the line of sight, and the spectroscopic method, those that oscillates in the line of sight direction. We have applied the spectroscopic method to the imaging spectral data taken by the FISS on GST at Big Bear. As a result, we detected a number of propagating Alfvénic wave packets, and found that there are two distinct groups: three-minute period waves, and ten-minute period waves.
The first magnetic field in a star other than the Sun was detected in 1947 in the star 78 Vir. Today, we know that about 10% of these intermediate-mass and high-mass stars have strong, large-scale surface magnetic fields whose origin has remained a mystery till today. It has been suggested that merging of main-sequence and pre-main-sequence stars could produce such strong fields. The massive star τ Sco is a well-known member of the group of magnetic stars and is a blue straggler given its apparently young age compared to that of other members of the Upper Scorpius association. Here, we present 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the coalescence of two massive main-sequence stars and 1D stellar evolution computations of the subsequent evolution of the merger product that can explain τ Sco’s magnetic field, apparent youth and other observed characteristics. We argue that field amplification in stellar mergers is a general mechanism to form strongly-magnetised massive stars. Such stars are promising progenitors of magnetars, which may give rise to some of the enigmatic fast radio bursts, and their supernova explosions may be affected by the strong magnetic fields.
We present a new algorithm for the identification and physical characterization of current sheets and reconnection sites as well as the update of post-reconnection particles spectra in 2D and 3D large scale relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations. Lagrangian particles, which follow the fluid, are used to sample plasma parameters before entering the reconnection sites that form during the evolution of the different configurations considered. With the sampled parameters and a subgrid model based on results of Particle-in-Cell simulations we introduced in the PLUTO code an algorithm able to describe the post-reconnection spectra associated to the non-thermal component.
We study the role the the p-mode-like vertical oscillation on the photosphere in driving solar winds in the framework of Alfvén-wave-driven winds. By performing one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical numerical simulations from the photosphere to the interplanetary space, we discover that the mass-loss rate is raised up to ≈ 4 times as the amplitude of longitudinal perturbations at the photosphere increases. When the longitudinal fluctuation is added, transverse waves are generated by the mode conversion from longitudinal waves in the chromosphere, which increases Alfvénic Poynting flux in the corona. As a result, the coronal heating is enhanced to yield higher coronal density by the chromospheric evaporation, leading to the increase of the mass-loss rate. Our findings clearly show the importance of the p-mode oscillation in the photosphere and the mode conversion in the chromosphere in determining the basic properties of the wind from the sun and solar-type stars.
High-energy stellar irradiation can photoevaporate planetary atmospheres, which can be observed in spectroscopic transits of hydrogen lines. Here, we investigate the effect of planetary magnetic fields on the observational signatures of atmospheric escape in hot Jupiters.
Massive stars are amongst the rarest but also most intriguing stars. Their extreme, magnetised stellar winds induce, by wind-ISM interaction, famous multi-wavelengths circumstellar gas nebulae of various morphologies, spanning from large-scale wind bubbles to stellar wind bow shocks, rings and bipolar shapes. We present two- and three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of the circumstellar medium of such massive stars at different phase of their evolution. Particularly, we investigate the stability properties of 3D MHD bow shock nebulae around the runaway red supergiant stars IRC-10414 and Betelgeuse. Our results show that their astrospheres are stabilised by an organised, non-parallel ambient magnetic field. These findings suggest that Betelgeuse’s bar is of interstellar origin. Last, we explore the circular aspect of the young nebula around the Wolf-Rayet stars. It is found that Wolf-Rayet nebulae are not affected by the ISM gas distribution in which the stellar objects lie, even in the case of fast stellar motion: as testifies the ring-like surroundings of the Milky Way’s fastest Wolf-Rayet star, WR124. The morphology of these nebulae is tightly related to their pre-Wolf-Rayet wind geometry and to their phase evolution transition properties, which can generate bipolar shapes. We will further discuss their diffuse projected emission by means of radiative transfer calculations and show that the projected diffuse emission can appear as bipolar structures as in NGC6888.
There are indications that the magnetic field evolution in galaxies might be massively shaped by tidal interactions and mergers between galaxies. The details of the connection between the evolution of magnetic fields and that of their host galaxies is still a field of research.
We use a combined approach of magnetohydrodynamics for the baryons and an N-body scheme for the dark matter to investigate magnetic field amplification and evolution in interacting galaxies.
We find that, for two colliding equal-mass galaxies and for varying initial relative spatial orientations, magnetic fields are amplified during interactions, yet cannot be sustained. Furthermore, we find clues for an active mean-field dynamo.
Computational heliophysics has shed light on the fundamental physical processes inside the Sun, such as the differential rotation, meridional circulation, and dynamo-generation of magnetic fields. However, despite the substantial advances, the current results of 3D MHD simulations are still far from reproducing helioseismic inferences and surface observations. The reason is the multi-scale nature of the solar dynamics, covering a vast range of scales, which cannot be solved with the current computational resources. In such a situation, significant progress has been achieved by the mean-field approach, based on the separation of small-scale turbulence and large-scale dynamics. The mean-field simulations can reproduce solar observations, qualitatively and quantitatively, and uncover new phenomena. However, they do not reveal the complex physics of large-scale convection, solar magnetic cycles, and the magnetic self-organization that causes sunspots and solar eruptions. Thus, developing a synergy of these approaches seems to be a necessary but very challenging task.
The combination of strong magnetic fields and fast rotation is often invoked as a characteristic of the central engine for outstanding sources such as GRBs, hypernovae, and superluminous supernovae. However, the actual properties of the magnetic field during the collapse of the stellar progenitor are very uncertain, since they depend on the evolution of the star and can be affected by complex dynamo processes occurring in the central proto-neutron star. Using 3D relativistic MHD models we show that higher-order multipolar fields can lead to the onset of a supernova, although they tend to produce less energetic explosions and less collimated outflows. Quadrupolar fields efficiently extract angular momentum from the central core, but the rotational energy is partly stored in the equatorial regions, rather than powering up the polar outflows. Finally, our results show a strong magnetic quenching of the hydrodynamic non-axisymmetric instabilities that are associated to the emission of GWs.
A numerical nonstationary two-dimensional MHD model of a protoplanetary disk near T Tauri star with a jet is developed. The model assumes consideration of pure gas ionization, optically thin cooling, anisotropic thermal conductivity and viscosity. The relaxation of gas-dynamic flows is analyzed. Based on the evolution of plasma flows, profiles of hydrogen spectral lines have been obtained.
While predominantly dipolar, large-scale magnetic fields are usually assumed in most studies involving neutron stars, there are multiple observational, theoretical hints and numerical simulations highlightening the importance of non-dipolar components. I review here the most important observational facts and numerical studies pointing towards the existence of magnetospheric currents and internal small-scale structures, arising from multipoles of poloidal and toroidal fields. This holds for all neutron star stages: at birth, during their lifetime and after a merger.
In this paper, the effect of hot spots movement by accretor surface on the appearance of bolometric light curves for two types of polars - synchronous V808 Aur and asynchronous CD Ind is studied. The analysis was carried out under the assumption of a dipole configuration of the magnetic field, in which the axis of the dipole passes through the accretor center. It is shown that a noticeable shift of the flow maximum at the light curve corresponding to the position of the spots in synchronous polars is determined by a change in the magnitude of mass transfer rate. At the same time, the maximum deviation of the spots from the magnetic poles was 30°. In asynchronous polars, assuming a constant of the mass transfer rate, the spots movement caused by a change in the orientation of the dipole axis relative to the donor has a significant effect on the appearance of light curve. The greatest displacement of the spots from the magnetic poles, which equals to 20°, was observed at the moments when the accretion jet switched from one pole to the other. It is concluded that the comparison of synthetic and observational light curves provides an opportunity to study the physical properties of polars.
Particle acceleration induced by fast magnetic reconnection may help to solve current puzzles related to the interpretation of the very high energy (VHE) and neutrino emissions from AGNs and compact sources in general. Our general relativistic-MHD simulations of accretion disk-corona systems reveal the growth of turbulence driven by MHD instabilities that lead to the development of fast magnetic reconnection in the corona. In addition, our simulations of relativistic MHD jets reveal the formation of several sites of fast reconnection induced by current-driven kink turbulence. The injection of thousands of test particles in these regions causes acceleration up to energies of several PeVs, thus demonstrating the ability of this process to accelerate particles and produce VHE and neutrino emission, specially in blazars. Finally, we discuss how reconnection can also explain the observed VHE luminosity-black hole mass correlation, involving hundreds of non-blazar sources like Perseus A, and black hole binaries.
Irrespective of whether Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is cored with Supermassive Black Holes (SMBH) or not, there is a general consensus that observations indicate that the AGN plays fundamental role in galaxy evolution. The accretion disc powered fueling of the AGN and counter-feedback on its environment in the form of stress-energy-momentum along the radial component and an associated polodial jets seems viable model. On the theoretical ground there is no unified theory that compromise the observations. But there are pull of such diverse physics simulated to describe the observational works. So, there is unsettled theoretical framework how the activity of the AGN plays role in the evolution of host galaxy. Motivated by this we studied the role of AGN on its host galaxy evolution where General relativistic (GR) Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equation is considered to derive radial pressure that invokes star forming cold gases. Methodologically the central engine of the AGN is considered with SMBH/pseudo-SMBH. Locally, around the AGN, Reissner-Nordstrom-de Sitter metric is considered that reduces to the Schwarzschoild-de Sitter (SdS) background. Geometrically, a simple spherical geometry is superimposed with central disc structure assumed by cored void mass ablating model. The results of the work indicates that the AGN plays role in galaxy evolution, especially in the nearby environment. Also we report that the adjacent envelope to the AGN seems quiet with no activity in formation.
This chapter sets the scene for the discussion, presenting the MHD equations and their basic properties before turning to a discussion of the basic ideas of wave propagation. A variety of plasmas are also briefly reviewed with most attention devoted to the solar atmosphere and its observed features. Coronal loops and sunspots are given some attention.
The process of linearization of equations is described. Also, the two fundamental speeds that arise, the sound speed and Alfven speed, are defined and evaluated for illustrative purposes. The concepts of phase speed and group velocity are introduced.
Hot Jupiters have extended gaseous (ionospheric) envelopes, which extend far beyond the Roche lobe. The envelopes are loosely bound to the planet and, therefore, are strongly influenced by fluctuations of the stellar wind. We show that, since hot Jupiters are close to the parent stars, magnetic field of the stellar wind is an important factor defining the structure of their magnetospheres. For a typical hot Jupiter, velocity of the stellar wind plasma flow around the atmosphere is close to the Alfvén velocity. As a result stellar wind fluctuations, such as coronal mass ejections, can affect the conditions for the formation of a bow shock around a hot Jupiter. This effect can affect observational manifestations of hot Jupiters.
For the shortest period exoplanets, star-planet tidal interactions are likely to have played a major role in the ultimate orbital evolution of the planets and on the spin evolution of the host stars. Although low-mass stars are magnetically active objects, the question of how the star’s magnetic field impacts the excitation, propagation and dissipation of tidal waves remains open. We have derived the magnetic contribution to the tidal interaction and estimated its amplitude throughout the structural and rotational evolution of low-mass stars (from K to F-type). We find that the star’s magnetic field has little influence on the excitation of tidal waves in nearly circular and coplanar Hot-Jupiter systems, but that it has a major impact on the way waves are dissipated.
The dynamo mechanism, responsible for the solar magnetic activity, is still an open problem in astrophysics. Different theories proposed to explain such phenomena have failed in reproducing the observational properties of the solar magnetism. Thus, ab-initio computational modeling of the convective dynamo in a spherical shell turns out as the best alternative to tackle this problem. In this work we review the efforts performed in global simulations over the past decades. Regarding the development and sustain of mean-flows, as well as mean magnetic field, we discuss the points of agreement and divergence between the different modeling strategies. Special attention is given to the implicit large-eddy simulations performed with the EULAG-MHD code.