Flows and dynamos in a model of stellar radiative zones

Simitev, R. D. and Busse, F. H. (2018) Flows and dynamos in a model of stellar radiative zones. Journal of Plasma Physics, 84(3), 735840308. (doi: 10.1017/S0022377818000612)

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Abstract

Stellar radiative zones are typically assumed to be motionless in standard models of stellar structure but there is sound theoretical and observational evidence that this cannot be the case. We investigate by direct numerical simulations a three-dimensional and time-dependent model of stellar radiation zones consisting of an electrically-conductive and stably-stratified anelastic fluid confined to a rotating spherical shell and driven by a baroclinic torque. As the baroclinic driving is gradually increased a sequence of transitions from an axisymmetric and equatorially-symmetric time-independent flow to flows with a strong poloidal component and lesser symmetry are found. It is shown that all flow regimes characterised with significant non-axisymmetric components are capable of generating self-sustained magnetic field. As the value of the Prandtl number is decreased and the value of the Ekman number is decreased flows become strongly time-dependent with progressively complex spatial structure and dynamos can be generated at lower values of the magnetic Prandtl number.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Simitev, Professor Radostin
Authors: Simitev, R. D., and Busse, F. H.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
Journal Name:Journal of Plasma Physics
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
ISSN:0022-3778
ISSN (Online):1469-7807
Published Online:25 June 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 Cambridge University Press
First Published:First published in Journal of Plasma Physics 84(3):735840308
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
570591Two-layer thermo-compositional dynamo models of the geomagnetic field.Radostin SimitevLeverhulme Trust (LEVERHUL)RPG-2012-600M&S - MATHEMATICS