scholarly journals The magnetic field of the nearest cool star A Paradigm for Stellar Activity

1996 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Carolus J. Schrijver
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Differential Rotation ◽  
Stellar Atmospheres ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Cool Star ◽  
Temperature Regimes ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Selection Of

Looking at the Sun forges the framework within which we try to interpret stellar observations. The stellar counterparts of spots, plages, flux tubes, chromospheres, coronae, etc., are readily invoked when attempting to interpret stellar data. This review discusses a selection of solar phenomena that are crucial to understand stellar atmospheric activity. Topics include the interaction of magnetic fields and flows, the relationships between fluxes from different temperature regimes in stellar atmospheres, the photospheric flux budget and its impact on the measurement of the dynamo strength, and the measurement of stellar differential rotation.

Solar Dynamo

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Differential Rotation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Toroidal Field ◽  
Solar Dynamo ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The solar dynamo is the action of flows inside the Sun to maintain its magnetic field against Ohmic decay. On small scales the magnetic field is seen at the solar surface as a ubiquitous “salt-and-pepper” disorganized field that may be generated directly by the turbulent convection. On large scales, the magnetic field is remarkably organized, with an 11-year activity cycle. During each cycle the field emerging in each hemisphere has a specific East–West alignment (known as Hale’s law) that alternates from cycle to cycle, and a statistical tendency for a North-South alignment (Joy’s law). The polar fields reverse sign during the period of maximum activity of each cycle. The relevant flows for the large-scale dynamo are those of convection, the bulk rotation of the Sun, and motions driven by magnetic fields, as well as flows produced by the interaction of these. Particularly important are the Sun’s large-scale differential rotation (for example, the equator rotates faster than the poles), and small-scale helical motions resulting from the Coriolis force acting on convective motions or on the motions associated with buoyantly rising magnetic flux. These two types of motions result in a magnetic cycle. In one phase of the cycle, differential rotation winds up a poloidal magnetic field to produce a toroidal field. Subsequently, helical motions are thought to bend the toroidal field to create new poloidal magnetic flux that reverses and replaces the poloidal field that was present at the start of the cycle. It is now clear that both small- and large-scale dynamo action are in principle possible, and the challenge is to understand which combination of flows and driving mechanisms are responsible for the time-dependent magnetic fields seen on the Sun.

Emergence of Twisted Magnetic Flux Related Sigmoidal Brightening

2000 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 263-264
Author(s):  
K. Sundara Raman ◽  
K. B. Ramesh ◽  
R. Selvendran ◽  
P. S. M. Aleem ◽  
K. M. Hiremath
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Energy Storage And Conversion ◽  
The Sun ◽  
X Rays ◽  
The Magnetic Field

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.

scholarly journals Flux expulsion with dynamics

2016 ◽  
Vol 791 ◽  
pp. 568-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Gilbert ◽  
Joanne Mason ◽  
Steven M. Tobias
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Lorentz Force ◽  
Differential Rotation ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Dynamical Regime ◽  
Kinematic Evolution ◽  
Flux Expulsion ◽  
The Magnetic Field

In the process of flux expulsion, a magnetic field is expelled from a region of closed streamlines on a $TR_{m}^{1/3}$ time scale, for magnetic Reynolds number $R_{m}\gg 1$ ($T$ being the turnover time of the flow). This classic result applies in the kinematic regime where the flow field is specified independently of the magnetic field. A weak magnetic ‘core’ is left at the centre of a closed region of streamlines, and this decays exponentially on the $TR_{m}^{1/2}$ time scale. The present paper extends these results to the dynamical regime, where there is competition between the process of flux expulsion and the Lorentz force, which suppresses the differential rotation. This competition is studied using a quasi-linear model in which the flow is constrained to be axisymmetric. The magnetic Prandtl number $R_{m}/R_{e}$ is taken to be small, with $R_{m}$ large, and a range of initial field strengths $b_{0}$ is considered. Two scaling laws are proposed and confirmed numerically. For initial magnetic fields below the threshold $b_{core}=O(UR_{m}^{-1/3})$, flux expulsion operates despite the Lorentz force, cutting through field lines to result in the formation of a central core of magnetic field. Here $U$ is a velocity scale of the flow and magnetic fields are measured in Alfvén units. For larger initial fields the Lorentz force is dominant and the flow creates Alfvén waves that propagate away. The second threshold is $b_{dynam}=O(UR_{m}^{-3/4})$, below which the field follows the kinematic evolution and decays rapidly. Between these two thresholds the magnetic field is strong enough to suppress differential rotation, leaving a magnetically controlled core spinning in solid body motion, which then decays slowly on a time scale of order $TR_{m}$.

scholarly journals Solar and stellar magnetic flux tubes

1996 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 201-216
Author(s):  
Sami K. Solanki
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Properties ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Large Range ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetic Elements ◽  
Turbulent Pressure ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The magnetic field of the Sun is mainly concentrated into intense magnetic flux tubes having field strengths of the order of 1 kG. In this paper an overview is given of the thermal and magnetic properties of these flux tubes, which are known to exhibit a large range in size, from the smallest magnetic elements to sunspots. Differences and similarities between the largest and smallest features are stressed. Some thoughts are also presented on how the properties of magnetic flux tubes are expected to scale from the solar case to that of solar-like stars. For example, it is pointed out that on giants and supergiants turbulent pressure may dominate over gas pressure as the main confining agent of the magnetic field. Arguments are also presented in favour of a highly complex magnetic geometry on very active stars. Thus the very large starspots seen in Doppler images probably are conglomerates of smaller (but possibly still sizable) spots.

scholarly journals Large-Scale Internal Magnetic Field of the Sun

1990 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 391-394
Author(s):  
A.E. Dudorov ◽  
V.N. Krivodubskij ◽  
A.A. Ruzmaikin ◽  
T.V. Ruzmaikina
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Differential Rotation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Poloidal Magnetic Field ◽  
The Core ◽  
Torsional Waves ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The behaviour of the magnetic field during the formation and evolution of the Sun is investigated. It is shown that an internal poloidal magnetic field of the order of 104 − 105 G near the core of the Sun may be compatible with differential rotation and with torsional waves, travelling along the magnetic field lines (Dudorov et al., 1989).

scholarly journals Measuring the Permeability of Vacuum Using a Smartphone

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarier Wannous ◽  
Peter Horváth
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Selection Of

The paper offers a few activities for high school students which use the magnetometer of a smartphone to measure the value of magnetic fields. The first part of the paper deals with finding the magnetometer of the used smartphone. Following is the first selection of activities which are focused on discovering the equation for measuring the magnetic field of coil with a negligible length, while the second selection of activities use the discovered equation to measure the permeability of vacuum and finally to measure the magnetic field of the earth. Sample results of the experiments are given, showing the accuracy and effectiveness of the conducted experiments. The activities offer teachers a novel way for teaching the equation for calculating the magnetic field of a coil, as well as measuring the permeability of vacuum in a classroom environment.

scholarly journals Solar and Stellar Magnetic Fields and Atmospheric Structures: Theory

1989 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-288
Author(s):  
E. N. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Dynamical Behavior ◽  
Convective Zone ◽  
Coronal Heating ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Current Sheets ◽  
Spontaneous Formation ◽  
Stellar Magnetic Fields ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractThis presentation reviews selected ideas on the origin of the magnetic field of the Sun, the dynamical behavior of the azimuthal field in the convective zone, the fibril state of the field at the photosphere, the formation of sunspots, prominences, the spontaneous formation of current sheets in the bipolar field above the surface of the Sun, coronal heating, and flares.

V. Heating and Dynamics of Chromosphere and Corona

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-102
Author(s):  
G.E. Brueckner
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Acoustic Waves ◽  
Convection Zone ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetic Structures ◽  
Convective Motions ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The crucial role of magnetic fields in any mechanism to heat the outer solar atmosphere has been generally accepted by all authors. However, there is still no agreement about the detailed function of the magnetic field. Heating mechanisms can be divided up into 4 classes: (I) The magnetic field plays a passive role as a suitable medium for the propagation of Alfvén waves from the convection zone into the corona (Ionson, 1984). (II) In closed magnetic structures the slow random shuffling of field lines by convective motions below the surface induces electric currents in the corona which heat it by Joule dissipation (Heyvaerts and Priest, 1984). (Ill) Emerging flux which is generated in the convection zone reacts with ionized material while magnetic field lines move through the chromosphere, transition zone and corona. Rapid field line annihilation, reconnection and drift currents result in heating and material ejection (Brueckner, 1987; Brueckner et al., 1987; Cook et al., 1987). (IV) Acoustic waves which could heat the corona can be guided by magnetic fields. Temperature distribution, wave motions and shock formation are highly dependent on the geometry of the flux tubes (Ulmschneider and Muchmore, 1986; Ulmschneider, Muchmore and Kalkofen, 1987).

scholarly journals Modeling surface magnetic fields in stars with radiative envelopes

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S302) ◽  
pp. 290-299
Author(s):  
Oleg Kochukhov
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Stellar Atmospheres ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
Doppler Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Field Mapping ◽  
Ap Stars ◽  
Surface Fields ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractStars with radiative envelopes, specifically the upper main sequence chemically peculiar (Ap) stars, were among the first objects outside our solar system for which surface magnetic fields have been detected. Currently magnetic Ap stars remains the only class of stars for which high-resolution measurements of both linear and circular polarization in individual spectral lines are feasible. Consequently, these stars provide unique opportunities to study the physics of polarized radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres, to analyze in detail stellar magnetic field topologies and their relation to starspots, and to test different methodologies of stellar magnetic field mapping. Here I present an overview of different approaches to modeling the surface fields in magnetic A- and B-type stars. In particular, I summarize the ongoing efforts to interpret high-resolution full Stokes vector spectra of these stars using magnetic Doppler imaging. These studies reveal an unexpected complexity of the magnetic field geometries in some Ap stars.

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