scholarly journals Shapes of stellar activity cycles

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A69
Author(s):  
T. Willamo ◽  
T. Hackman ◽  
J. J. Lehtinen ◽  
M. J. Käpylä ◽  
N. Olspert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Cycle Asymmetry ◽  
Asymmetric Shape ◽  
Activity Cycles ◽  
Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations ◽  
Fast Rise

Context. Magnetic activity cycles are an important phenomenon both in the Sun and other stars. The shape of the solar cycle is commonly characterised by a fast rise and a slower decline, but not much attention has been paid to the shape of cycles in other stars. Aims. Our aim is to study whether the asymmetric shape of the solar cycle is common in other stars as well, and compare the cycle asymmetry to other stellar parameters. We also study the differences in the shape of the solar cycle, depending on the activity indicator that is used. The observations are also compared to simulated activity cycles. Methods. We used the chromospheric Ca II H&K data from the Mount Wilson Observatory HK Project. In this data set, we identified 47 individual cycles from 18 stars. We used the statistical skewness of a cycle as a measure of its asymmetry, and compared this to other stellar parameters. A similar analysis has been performed for magnetic cycles extracted from direct numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of solar-type convection zones. Results. The shape of the solar cycle (fast rise and slower decline) is common in other stars as well, although the Sun seems to have particularly asymmetric cycles. Cycle-to-cycle variations are large, but the average shape of a cycle is still fairly well represented by a sinusoid, although this does not take its asymmetry into account. We find only slight correlations between the cycle asymmetry and other stellar parameters. There are large differences in the shape of the solar cycle, depending on the activity indicator that is used. The simulated cycles differ in the symmetry of global simulations that cover the full longitudinal range and are therefore capable of exciting non-axisymmetric large-scale dynamo modes, and wedge simulations that cover a partial extent in longitude, where only axisymmetric large-scale modes are possible. The former preferentially produce positive and the latter negative skewness.

scholarly journals Overlapping Magnetic Activity Cycles and the Sunspot Number: Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Amplitude

Solar Physics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott W. McIntosh ◽  
Sandra Chapman ◽  
Robert J. Leamon ◽  
Ricky Egeland ◽  
Nicholas W. Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Sunspot Number ◽  
Sunspot Cycle ◽  
Periodic Variation ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Magnetic Cycle ◽  
Hilbert Transforms ◽  
Observational Astronomy ◽  
Activity Cycles

AbstractThe Sun exhibits a well-observed modulation in the number of spots on its disk over a period of about 11 years. From the dawn of modern observational astronomy, sunspots have presented a challenge to understanding—their quasi-periodic variation in number, first noted 175 years ago, has stimulated community-wide interest to this day. A large number of techniques are able to explain the temporal landmarks, (geometric) shape, and amplitude of sunspot “cycles,” however, forecasting these features accurately in advance remains elusive. Recent observationally-motivated studies have illustrated a relationship between the Sun’s 22-year (Hale) magnetic cycle and the production of the sunspot cycle landmarks and patterns, but not the amplitude of the sunspot cycle. Using (discrete) Hilbert transforms on more than 270 years of (monthly) sunspot numbers we robustly identify the so-called “termination” events that mark the end of the previous 11-yr sunspot cycle, the enhancement/acceleration of the present cycle, and the end of 22-yr magnetic activity cycles. Using these we extract a relationship between the temporal spacing of terminators and the magnitude of sunspot cycles. Given this relationship and our prediction of a terminator event in 2020, we deduce that sunspot Solar Cycle 25 could have a magnitude that rivals the top few since records began. This outcome would be in stark contrast to the community consensus estimate of sunspot Solar Cycle 25 magnitude.

scholarly journals Solar cycle changes of large-scale solar wind structure

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S264) ◽  
pp. 356-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Manoharan
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Interplanetary Space ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Wind Structure ◽  
Level Of Activity ◽  
Solar Wind Structure ◽  
Current Minimum ◽  
Inner Heliosphere

AbstractIn this paper, I present the results on large-scale evolution of density turbulence of solar wind in the inner heliosphere during 1985–2009. At a given distance from the Sun, the density turbulence is maximum around the maximum phase of the solar cycle and it reduces to ~70%, near the minimum phase. However, in the current minimum of solar activity, the level of turbulence has gradually decreased, starting from the year 2005, to the present level of ~30%. These results suggest that the source of solar wind changes globally, with the important implication that the supply of mass and energy from the Sun to the interplanetary space has significantly reduced in the present low level of activity.

scholarly journals Reconstruction of Sun-as-Star Magnetic Field Structure and Evolution Using Filament Observations

1998 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 493-496
Author(s):  
Dmitri I. Ponyavin
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Solar Magnetic Field ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Field Structure ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Magnetic Field Structure ◽  
Large Scale Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Organization

AbstractA technique is used to restore the magnetic field of the Sun viewed as star from the filament distribution seen on Hα photographs. For this purpose synoptic charts of the large-scale magnetic field reconstructed by the McIntosh method have been compared with the Sun-asstar solar magnetic field observed at Stanford. We have established a close association between the Sun-as-star magnetic field and the mean magnetic field inferred from synoptic magnetic field maps. A filtering technique was applied to find correlations between the Sun-as-star and large-scale magnetic field distributions during the course of a solar cycle. The correlations found were then used to restore the Sun-as-star magnetic field and its evolution in the late 1950s and 1960s, when such measurements of the field were not being made. A stackplot display of the inferred data reveals large-scale magnetic field organization and evolution. Patterns of the Sun-as-star magnetic field during solar cycle 19 were obtained. The proposed technique can be useful for studying the solar magnetic field structure and evolution during times with no direct observations.

scholarly journals Sun-like Stars: magnetic fields, cycles and exoplanets

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (A29A) ◽  
pp. 360-364
Author(s):  
Rim Fares
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Observational Constraints ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Field Generation ◽  
Large Scale Magnetic Field ◽  
Planetary Orbits ◽  
Activity Cycles ◽  
Magnetic Cycles

AbstractIn Sun-like stars, magnetic fields are generated in the outer convective layers. They shape the stellar environment, from the photosphere to planetary orbits. Studying the large-scale magnetic field of those stars enlightens our understanding of the field properties and gives us observational constraints for field generation dynamo models. It also sheds light on how “normal” the Sun is among Sun-like stars. In this contribution, I will review the field properties of Sun-like stars, focusing on solar twins and planet hosting stars. I will discuss the observed large-scale magnetic cycles, compare them to stellar activity cycles, and link that to what we know about the Sun. I will also discuss the effect of large-scale stellar fields on exoplanets, exoplanetary emissions (e.g. radio), and habitability.

scholarly journals The Rotational Modulation of Ca II K in the Sun

1991 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 266-267
Author(s):  
I. Sattarov ◽  
A. Hojaev
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Astronomical Observatory ◽  
Rigid Rotation ◽  
Longitudinal Distribution ◽  
The Sun ◽  
K Index ◽  
Rotational Modulation ◽  
Line Core

The most widely used indicator of the stellar magnetic activity is the flux in the CaII K-line core (K-index) (Baliunas and Vaughan, 1985). The K-index data have also been used for measuring the rotation of stars. But using the method for the Sun gives different results (Keil and Worden, 1984; Singh and Livingston, 1987). The reason for the observed differences, besides those indicated by Singh and Livingston, may be the character of the distribution of active regions. This study is based on observations made at Tashkent Astronomical Observatory and the data published in SGD for solar cycle 21. We study the longitudional distribution of sunspots and plages. Some intervals of active longitudes (IAL) were selected and the evolution of them was studied. Active regions were found to concentrate in certain longitude intervals which are in nearly rigid rotation. Fig. 1 shows the longitudinal distribution of sunspots areas for 1983-84, as an example.

scholarly journals The future of helioseismology

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (H15) ◽  
pp. 352-353
Author(s):  
Alexander G. Kosovichev
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Solar Dynamo ◽  
Current Status ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Interior Structure ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Solar Magnetic Activity

AbstractHelioseismology has provided us with the unique knowledge of the interior structure and dynamics of the Sun, and the variations with the solar cycle. However, the basic mechanisms of solar magnetic activity, formation of sunspots and active regions are still unknown. Determining the physical properties of the solar dynamo, detecting emerging active regions and observing the subsurface dynamics of sunspots are among the most important and challenging problems. The current status and perspectives of helioseismology are briefly discussed.

scholarly journals Stellar Chromospheric Variability

Universe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 440
Author(s):  
Richard de de Grijs ◽  
Devika Kamath
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Close Binary ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Stellar Rotation ◽  
Chromospheric Activity ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Hα Emission ◽  
Activity Cycles

Cool stars with convective envelopes of spectral types F and later tend to exhibit magnetic activity throughout their atmospheres. The presence of strong and variable magnetic fields is evidenced by photospheric starspots, chromospheric plages and coronal flares, as well as by strong Ca ii H+K and Hα emission, combined with the presence of ultraviolet resonance lines. We review the drivers of stellar chromospheric activity and the resulting physical parameters implied by the observational diagnostics. At a basic level, we explore the importance of stellar dynamos and their activity cycles for a range of stellar types across the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. We focus, in particular, on recent developments pertaining to stellar rotation properties, including the putative Vaughan–Preston gap. We also pay specific attention to magnetic variability associated with close binary systems, including RS Canum Venaticorum, BY Draconis, W Ursae Majoris and Algol binaries. At the present time, large-scale photometric and spectroscopic surveys are becoming generally available, thus leading to a resurgence of research into chromospheric activity. This opens up promising prospects to gain a much improved understanding of chromospheric physics and its wide-ranging impact.

scholarly journals Starspot rotation rates versus activity cycle phase: Butterfly diagrams of Kepler stars are unlike that of the Sun

2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A85 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Nielsen ◽  
L. Gizon ◽  
R. H. Cameron ◽  
M. Miesch
Keyword(s):  
Effective Temperature ◽  
Rotation Rate ◽  
Activity Cycle ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Rotation Rates ◽  
Rotation Periods ◽  
Activity Cycles ◽  
The Mean

Context. During the solar magnetic activity cycle the emergence latitudes of sunspots change, leading to the well-known butterfly diagram. This phenomenon is poorly understood for other stars since starspot latitudes are generally unknown. The related changes in starspot rotation rates caused by latitudinal differential rotation can, however, be measured. Aims. Using the set of 3093 Kepler stars with measured activity cycles, we aim to study the temporal change in starspot rotation rates over magnetic activity cycles, and how this relates to the activity level, the mean rotation rate of the star, and its effective temperature. Methods. We measured the photometric variability as a proxy for the magnetic activity and the spot rotation rate in each quarter over the duration of the Kepler mission. We phase-folded these measurements with the cycle period. To reduce random errors, we performed averages over stars with comparable mean rotation rates and effective temperature at fixed activity-cycle phases. Results. We detect a clear correlation between the variation of activity level and the variation of the starspot rotation rate. The sign and amplitude of this correlation depends on the mean stellar rotation and – to a lesser extent – on the effective temperature. For slowly rotating stars (rotation periods between 15 − 28 days), the starspot rotation rates are clearly anti-correlated with the level of activity during the activity cycles. A transition is observed around rotation periods of 10 − 15 days, where stars with an effective temperature above 4200 K instead show positive correlation. Conclusions. Our measurements can be interpreted in terms of a stellar “butterfly diagram”, but these appear different from that of the Sun since the starspot rotation rates are either in phase or anti-phase with the activity level. Alternatively, the activity cycle periods observed by Kepler are short (around 2.5 years) and may therefore be secondary cycles, perhaps analogous to the solar quasi-biennial oscillations.

Structure and connectivity of CME-driven shocks and sheaths through the inner heliosphere

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Palmerio ◽  
Christina Lee ◽  
Dusan Odstrcil ◽  
Leila Mays
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Interplanetary Shocks ◽  
Plasma Parameters ◽  
Wind Structure ◽  
Solar Wind Structure ◽  
Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations ◽  
Comprehensive Study ◽  
Inner Heliosphere

<p>The evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) as they travel away from the Sun is one of the major issues in heliophysics and space weather. During propagation, CMEs and the structures ahead of them (i.e., interplanetary shocks and sheath regions, if present) are significantly affected by the ambient solar wind, which is able to alter their speed, trajectory, and orientation. The scarcity of multi-spacecraft measurements of the same CME, however, implies that little is known about how and where (in terms of distance from the Sun) these various processes exactly come into play.</p><p>To address this issue, we run a series of 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations using the coupled solar–heliospheric WSA–Enlil model, in which we launch idealised CMEs as hydrodynamic (non-magnetised) structures. This allows us to focus on the evolution of CME-driven shocks and sheath regions through a multi-point study. We launch CMEs of various speeds through different solar wind backgrounds and at different heliolongitudes with respect to the streamer belt position. Then, we investigate the resulting magnetic field and plasma parameters at a series of synthetic spacecraft placed at various longitudes around the CME apex and at various heliocentric distances between 0.5 AU and 2 AU. We also analyse how the magnetic connectivity at these spacecraft evolves as the CME propagates. This work represents a comprehensive study of the interaction of CME-driven shocks and sheath regions with the large-scale solar wind structure throughout the inner heliosphere, with the aim to establish a range of expected behaviours and outcomes useful to interpret real events.</p>

Latitudinal dependence of supergranular Area and Fractal dimension

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paniveni Udayashankar
Keyword(s):  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Convection Zone ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Quiet Region ◽  
Latitudinal Dependence ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract: A dependence of the area of supergranular cells with respect to the Latitude is studied and it is found that the cells are situated symmetrically about the ±250 latitude.Fractal dimension of the supergranular cells also shows a marginal latitudinal dependence, variation being in the range 1.6–1.7 in the latitudinal limits of ±300. Fractal dimension D for supergranulation is obtained according to the relation P ∝ AD/2 where ‘A is the area and ‘P’ is the perimeter of the supergranular cells. A difference in the fractal dimension between the active and quiet region cells is noted which is conjectured to be due to the magnetic activity level.Supergranular cells are essentially a manifestation of convective phenomena. They can shed light on the physical conditions in the convection zone of the Sun. Moreover, supergranules play a key role in the transport and dispersal of magnetic fields as it is an important step in our quest to understand the solar cycle.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document