Convection and Dynamo in Newly Born Neutron Stars

To study properties of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) convection and resultant dynamo activities in proto-neutron stars (PNSs), we construct a “PNS in a box” simulation model and solve the compressible MHD equation coupled with a nuclear equation of state (EOS) and simplified leptonic transport. As a demonstration, we apply it to two types of PNS model with different internal structures: a fully convective model and a spherical-shell convection model. By varying the spin rate of the models, the rotational dependence of convection and the dynamo that operate inside the PNS is investigated. We find that, as a consequence of turbulent transport by rotating stratified convection, large-scale structures of flow and thermodynamic fields are developed in all models. Depending on the spin rate and the depth of the convection zone, various profiles of the large-scale structures are obtained, which can be physically understood as steady-state solutions to the “mean-field” equation of motion. Additionally to those hydrodynamic structures, a large-scale magnetic component of  ( 10 15 ) G is also spontaneously organized in disordered tangled magnetic fields in all models. The higher the spin rate, the stronger the large-scale magnetic component grows. Intriguingly, as an overall trend, the fully convective models have a stronger large-scale magnetic component than that in the spherical-shell convection models. The deeper the convection zone extends, the larger the size of the convective eddies becomes. As a result, rotationally constrained convection seems to be more easily achieved in the fully convective model, resulting in a higher efficiency of the large-scale dynamo there. To gain a better understanding of the origin of the diversity of a neutron star’s magnetic field, we need to study the PNS dynamo in a wider parameter range.

On the Dynamics of Overshooting Convection in Spherical Shells: Effect of Density Stratification and Rotation

Overshooting of turbulent motions from convective regions into adjacent stably stratified zones plays a significant role in stellar interior dynamics, as this process may lead to mixing of chemical species and contribute to the transport of angular momentum and magnetic fields. We present a series of fully nonlinear, three-dimensional (3D) anelastic simulations of overshooting convection in a spherical shell that are focused on the dependence of the overshooting dynamics on the density stratification and the rotation, both key ingredients in stars that however have not been studied systematically together via global simulations. We demonstrate that the overshoot lengthscale is not simply a monotonic function of the density stratification in the convective region, but instead it depends on the ratio of the density stratifications in the two zones. Additionally, we find that the overshoot lengthscale decreases with decreasing Rossby number Ro and scales as Ro0.23 while it also depends on latitude with higher Rossby cases leading to a weaker latitudinal variation. We examine the mean flows arising due to rotation and find that they extend beyond the base of the convection zone into the stable region. Our findings may provide a better understanding of the dynamical interaction between stellar convective and radiative regions, and motivate future studies particularly related to the solar tachocline and the implications of its overlapping with the overshoot region.

Magnetic fields in the solar convection zone

It has been a prevailing picture that active regions on the solar surface originate from a strong toroidal magnetic field stored in the overshoot region at the base of the solar convection zone, generated by a deep seated solar dynamo mechanism. This article reviews the studies in regard to how the toroidal magnetic field can destabilize and rise through the convection zone to form the observed solar active regions at the surface. Furthermore, new results from the global simulations of the convective dynamos, and from the near-surface layer simulations of active region formation, together with helioseismic investigations of the pre-emergence active regions, are calling into question the picture of active regions as buoyantly rising flux tubes originating from the bottom of the convection zone. This article also gives a review on these new developments.

Comparative Analysis of Super-Kamiokande Solar Neutrino Measurements and Geological Survey of Israel Radon Decay Measurements

Analyses of neutrino measurements acquired by the Super-Kamiokande Neutrino Observatory (SK, in operation 1996–2001) and radon decay measurements acquired by the Geological Survey of Israel (GSI, in operation 2007–2017) yield strikingly similar detections of an oscillation with frequency 9.43 ± 0.04 year−1 (SK), 9.44 ± 0.04 year−1 (GSI); amplitude 6.8 ± 1.7% (SK), 7.0 ± 1.0% (GSI); and phase 124 ± 15° (SK), 124 ± 9° (GSI). This remarkably close correspondence supports the proposition that neutrinos may somehow influence nuclear decays. It is interesting to note that an oscillation at this frequency has also been reported by (Alexeyev EN, Gavrilyuk YM, Gangapshev AM, Phys Particles Nuclei, 2018 49(4):557–62) in the decay of 214Po. The physical process responsible for this influence of neutrinos on nuclear processes is currently unknown. Related oscillations in GSI data at 7.45 ± 0.03 year−1 and 8.46 ± 0.03 year−1 suggest that these three oscillations are attributable to a solar core that rotates with a sidereal rotation rate of 8.44 ± 0.03 year−1 about an axis almost orthogonal to that of the convection zone. We briefly discuss possible implications of these results.

Investigation into the Distribution of Erosion-Corrosion in the Furnace Tubes of Oil Refineries

Crude oil is one of the most important sources of energy in the world. To extract its multiple components, we need oil refineries. Refineries consist of multiple parts, including heat exchangers, furnaces, and others. It is known that one of the initial operations in the refineries is the process of gradually raising the temperature of crude oil to 370 degrees centigrade or higher. Hence, in this investigation the focus is on the furnaces and the corrosion in their tubes. The investigation was accomplished by reading the thickness of the tubes for the period from 2008 to 2020 with a test in every two year, had passed from their introduction into the work. Where the thickness of more than one point was measured on each tube in the same row and the corrosion rate was extracted for three furnaces, starting from the area of ​​heat transfer by radiation to the heat transfer area of ​​the convection in three different operating units. It was found that the highest percentage corrosion value between the standard tube thickness and the thickness of conduction position was 37% with the conduction zone, and 31% with radiation zone. There, the tubes specification was tested. Five percent Cr-0.5 Moly and the temperature of radiation zone was 578 °C to 613 °C and the stack temperature was 410 °C to 450 °C. So, the results show that the maximum erosion occur at the convection zone.

Permeation Characteristics and Surface Accumulation of Chloride in Different Zones of Concrete along Altitude in Marine Environments

The accumulation characteristics of surface chloride in concrete in different zones are different in the marine environment. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the surface chloride and permeation characteristics of concrete in a simulated marine environment. The experimental results indicated that the surface chloride and chloride profiles of concrete in different zones of marine environment decreased in the following order: tidal zone > splash zone > submerged zone > atmospheric zone. The width of the ascent zone of Cl− concentration at tidal and splash zones was far less than that of the influential depth of moisture transport (IDMT), and the range of convection zone was dependent on the IDMT. Cl− at splash and tidal zones penetrated into concrete as a bulk liquid by non-saturated permeation driven by a humidity gradient. The change of chloride profiles in concrete along the altitudinal gradient was consistent with that of the cyclic water absorption amount (CWAA). The transport rate of chloride was the highest at the highest point of the tide.

Simulating Properties of “Seasonal” Variability in Solar Activity and Space Weather Impacts

Solar short-term, quasi-annual variability within a decadal sunspot-cycle has recently been observed to strongly correlate with major class solar flares, resulting into quasi-periodic space weather “seasons.” In search for the origin of this quasi-periodic enhanced activity bursts, significant researches are going on. In this article we show, by employing a 3D thin-shell shallow-water type model, that magnetically modified Rossby waves can interact with spot-producing toroidal fields and create certain quasi-periodic spatio-temporal patterns, which plausibly cause a season of enhanced solar activity followed by a relatively quiet period. This is analogous to the Earth’s lower atmosphere, where Rossby waves and jet streams are produced and drive global terrestrial weather. Shallow-water models have been applied to study terrestrial Rossby waves, because their generation layer in the Earth’s lower atmospheric region has a much larger horizontal than vertical scale, one of the model-requirements. In the Sun, though Rossby waves can be generated at various locations, particularly favorable locations are the subadiabatic layers at/near the base of the convection zone where the horizontal scale of the fluid and disturbances in it can be much larger than the vertical scale. However, one important difference with respect to terrestrial waves is that solar Rossby waves are magnetically modified due to presence of strong magnetic fields in the Sun. We consider plausible magnetic field configurations at the base of the convection zone during different phases of the cycle and describe the properties of energetically active Rossby waves generated in our model. We also discuss their influence in causing short-term spatio-temporal variability in solar activity and how this variability could have space weather impacts. An example of a possible space weather impact on the Earth’s radiation belts are presented.