2017/10/31 by P. J. Bushby, P. J. Käpylä, Y. Masada +4 · 22 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Convection #Dynamo #Dynamo theory #Fluid dynamics and aerodynamics studies #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Induction equation #Instability #Magnetic field #Magnetohydrodynamics #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #Solar dynamo #Vortex #astro-ph.EP #astro-ph.SR #physics.flu-dyn
paper · pdf · doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201732066
published in Astronomy and Astrophysics 612, A97 (EDP Sciences) · 16 pages, 16 figures, to appear in Astronomy & Astrophysics. The material in the Appendix could form the basis for a possible benchmarking exercise; we would encourage anyone who might be interested in participating in such an exercise to contact the authors
openalex created_date 2017/10/20 · arxiv created 2018/01/15 · openalex publication_date 2018/01/25 · arxiv updated 2018/05/09 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Context. Convectively driven flows play a crucial role in the dynamo processes that are responsible for producing magnetic activity in stars and planets. It is still not fully understood why many astrophysical magnetic fields have a significant large-scale component. Aims. Our aim is to investigate the dynamo properties of compressible convection in a rapidly rotating Cartesian domain, focusing upon a parameter regime in which the underlying hydrodynamic flow is known to be unstable to a large-scale vortex instability. Methods. The governing equations of three-dimensional non-linear magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are solved numerically. Different numerical schemes are compared and we propose a possible benchmark case for other similar codes. Results. In keeping with previous related studies, we find that convection in this parameter regime can drive a large-scale dynamo. The components of the mean horizontal magnetic field oscillate, leading to a continuous overall rotation of the mean field. Whilst the large-scale vortex instability dominates the early evolution of the system, the large-scale vortex is suppressed by the magnetic field and makes a negligible contribution to the mean electromotive force that is responsible for driving the large-scale dynamo. The cycle period of the dynamo is comparable to the ohmic decay time, with longer cycles for dynamos in convective systems that are closer to onset. In these particular simulations, large-scale dynamo action is found only when vertical magnetic field boundary conditions are adopted at the upper and lower boundaries. Strongly modulated large-scale dynamos are found at higher Rayleigh numbers, with periods of reduced activity (grand minima-like events) occurring during transient phases in which the large-scale vortex temporarily re-establishes itself, before being suppressed again by the magnetic field.