The origin of our galactic magnetic field     

R.M. Kulsrud 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2010,331(1):22-26

A serious difficulty with the standard alpha‐omega theory of the origin of galactic magnetic fields involves the question of flux expulsion. This is intimately related to flux freezing. The alpha‐omega theory is shown in the context of the giant superbubble explosions that have a large impact on the physics of the interstellar medium. It is shown that superbubbles alone can duplicate the processes of the alpha‐omega dynamo and produce exponential growth of the galactic magnetic field. The possibility of the blow‐out of pieces of the magnetic field is discussed and it is shown that they have the potential to solve the flux‐expulsion problem. However, such an explanation must lead to apparent ‘gaps’ in the field in the galactic disc. These gaps are probably unavoidable in any dynamo theory and should have important observable consequences, one of which is an explanation for the escape of cosmic rays from the disc (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

Probability distribution functions for the Sun's magnetic field     

J.O. Stenflo 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2010,331(6):585-588

Magnetoconvection structures the Sun's magnetic field cover a vast range of scales, down to the magnetic diffusion scale that is orders of magnitude smaller than the resolution of current telescopes. The statistical properties of this structuring are governed by probability density functions (PDFs) for the flux densities and by the angular distribution functions for the orientations of the field vectors. The magnetic structuring on sub‐pixel scales greatly affects the field properties averaged over the resolution element due to the non‐linear relation between polarization and magnetic field. Here we use a Hinode SOT/SP data set for the quiet Sun disk center to explore the complex behavior of the 6301–6302 Å Stokes line profile system and identify the observables that allow us to determine the distribution functions in the most robust and least model dependent way. The angular distribution is found to be strongly peaked around the vertical direction for large flux densities but widens with decreasing flux density to become isotropic in the limit of zero flux density. The noise‐corrected PDFs for the vertical, horizontal, and total flux densities all have a narrowly peaked maximum at zero flux density that can be fitted with a stretched exponential, while the extended wings decline quadratically (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

The origin of cutoff frequencies for torsional tube waves propagating in the solar atmosphere     

R. Hammer  Z.E. Musielak  S. Routh 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2010,331(6):593-595

Torsional waves supported by magnetic flux tubes have long been thought to bear a high potential for supplying energy and momentum to the upper solar atmosphere, thereby contributing to its heating and to the driving of dynamic events like spicules. This hope rested on the belief that their propagation is not impeded by cutoff restrictions, unlike longitudinal and kink waves. We point out that this applies only to thin, isothermal tubes. When they widen in the chromosphere, and as a result of temperature gradients, cutoff restrictions arise. We compare them to recent observational reports of such waves and of vortex motions and find that their long period components are already affected by cutoff restrictions. An observational strategy is proposed that should permit the derivation of better information on vortex flows from off‐center observations with next generation telescopes (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

Comparisons and connections between mean field dynamo theory and accretion disc theory     

E.G. Blackman 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2010,331(1):101-109

The origin of large scale magnetic fields in astrophysical rotators, and the conversion of gravitational energy into radiation near stars and compact objects via accretion have been subjects of active research for a half century. Magnetohydrodynamic turbulence makes both problems highly nonlinear, so both subjects have benefitted from numerical simulations.However, understanding the key principles and practical modeling of observations warrants testable semi‐analytic mean field theories that distill the essential physics. Mean field dynamo (MFD) theory and alpha‐viscosity accretion disc theory exemplify this pursuit. That the latter is a mean field theory is not always made explicit but the combination of turbulence and global symmetry imply such. The more commonly explicit presentation of assumptions in 20th century textbook MFDT has exposed it to arguably more widespread criticism than incurred by 20th century alpha‐accretion theory despite complementary weaknesses. In the 21st century however, MFDT has experienced a breakthrough with a dynamical saturation theory that consistently agrees with simulations. Such has not yet occurred in accretion disc theory, though progress is emerging. Ironically however, for accretion engines, MFDT and accretion theory are presently two artificially uncoupled pieces of what should be a single coupled theory. Large scale fields and accretion flows are dynamically intertwined because large scale fields likely play a key role in angular momentum transport. I discuss and synthesize aspects of recent progress in MFDT and accretion disc theory to suggest why the two likely conspire in a unified theory (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

Large‐scale magnetic flux concentrations from turbulent stresses     

A. Brandenburg  N. Kleeorin  I. Rogachevskii 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2010,331(1):5-13

In this study we provide the first numerical demonstration of the effects of turbulence on the mean Lorentz force and the resulting formation of large‐scale magnetic structures. Using three‐dimensional direct numerical simulations (DNS) of forced turbulence we show that an imposed mean magnetic field leads to a decrease of the turbulent hydromagnetic pressure and tension. This phenomenon is quantified by determining the relevant functions that relate the sum of the turbulent Reynolds and Maxwell stresses with the Maxwell stress of the mean magnetic field. Using such a parameterization, we show by means of two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional mean‐field numerical modelling that an isentropic density stratified layer becomes unstable in the presence of a uniform imposed magnetic field. This large‐scale instability results in the formation of loop‐like magnetic structures which are concentrated at the top of the stratified layer. In three dimensions these structures resemble the appearance of bipolar magnetic regions in the Sun. The results of DNS and mean‐field numerical modelling are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. We discuss our model in the context of a distributed solar dynamo where active regions and sunspots might be rather shallow phenomena (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

MHD waves in the solar north polar coronal hole     

E. Devlen  E.R. Pekünlü 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2010,331(7):716-724

The effects, hitherto not treated, of the temperature and the number density gradients, both in the parallel and the perpendicular direction to the magnetic field, of O VI ions, on the MHD wave propagation characteristics in the solar North Polar Coronal Hole are investigated. We investigate the magnetosonic wave propagation in a resistive MHD regime where only the thermal conduction is taken into account. Heat conduction across the magnetic field is treated in a non‐classical approach wherein the heat is assumed to be conducted by the plasma waves emitted by ions and absorbed at a distance from the source by other ions. Anisotropic temperature and the number density distributions of O VI ions revealed the chaotic nature of MHD standing wave, especially near the plume/interplume lane borders. Attenuation length scales of the fast mode is shown not to be smoothly varying function of the radial distance from the Sun (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

Dynamo saturation in direct simulations of the multi‐phase turbulent interstellar medium     

A. Bendre  O. Gressel  D. Elstner 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2015,336(10):991-1004

The ordered magnetic field observed via polarised synchrotron emission in nearby disc galaxies can be explained by a mean‐field dynamo operating in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM). Additionally, vertical‐flux initial conditions are potentially able to influence this dynamo via the occurrence of the magnetorotational instability (MRI). We aim to study the influence of various initial field configurations on the saturated state of the mean‐field dynamo. This is motivated by the observation that different saturation behaviour was previously obtained for different supernova rates. We perform direct numerical simulations (DNS) of three‐dimensional local boxes of the vertically stratified, turbulent interstellar medium, employing shearing‐periodic boundary conditions horizontally. Unlike in our previous work, we also impose a vertical seed magnetic field. We run the simulations until the growth of the magnetic energy becomes negligible. We furthermore perform simulations of equivalent 1D dynamo models, with an algebraic quenching mechanism for the dynamo coefficients. We compare the saturation of the magnetic field in the DNS with the algebraic quenching of a mean‐field dynamo. The final magnetic field strength found in the direct simulation is in excellent agreement with a quenched α) dynamo. For supernova rates representative of the Milky Way, field losses via a Galactic wind are likely responsible for saturation. We conclude that the relative strength of the turbulent and regular magnetic fields in spiral galaxies may depend on the galaxy's star formation rate. We propose that a mean field approach with algebraic quenching may serve as a simple sub‐grid scale model for galaxy evolution simulations including a prescribed feedback from magnetic fields. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

Rotation and luminosity variations in post-main sequence stars     

Paul J. Wiita 《Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy》1981,2(4):387-403

Previous first-order analytic treatments of rotation acting upon stellar equilibria are extended to include later, post-Helium burning, stages of stellar evolution. Strong differential rotation is capable of substantially increasing the photon luminosities of post-main sequence stars, and thus accelerating their evolution. On the other hand, uniform rotation reduces the photon flux for a wide range of stellar interior types and conditions. Similar conclusions are drawn regarding the effects of rotation on the emission of neutrinos in pre-collapse phases of evolution. A brief discussion of the gravitational radiation emitted during these phases is also given.  相似文献   

Tayler instability with Hall effect in young neutron stars     

G. Rüdiger  D.A. Shalybkov  M. Schultz  M. Mond 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2009,330(1):12-19

Collapse calculations indicate that the hot young neutron stars rotate differentially so that strong toroidal magnetic field components should exist in the outer shell where also the Hall effect appears to be important when the Hall parameter = ω_Bτ exceeds unity. The amplitudes of the induced toroidal magnetic fields are limited by the current‐induced Tayler instability. An important characteristics of the Hall effect is its distinct dependence on the sign of the magnetic field. We find for fast rotation that positive (negative) Hall parameters essentially reduce (increase) the stability domain. It is thus concluded that the toroidal field belts in young neutron stars induced by their differential rotation should have different amplitudes in both hemispheres which later are frozen in. Due to the effect of magnetic suppression of the heat conductivity also the brightness of the two hemispheres should be different. As a possible example for our scenario the isolated neutron star RBS 1223 is considered which has been found to exhibit different X‐ray brightness at both hemispheres (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

Suppression of the large‐scale Lorentz force by turbulence     

G. Rüdiger  L.L. Kitchatinov  M. Schultz 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2012,333(1):84-91

The components of the total stress tensor (Reynolds stress plus Maxwell stress) are computed within the quasilinear approximation for a driven turbulence influenced by a large‐scale magnetic background field. The conducting fluid has an arbitrary magnetic Prandtl number and the turbulence without the background field is assumed as homogeneous and isotropic with a free Strouhal number St. The total large‐scale magnetic tension is always reduced by the turbulence with the possibility of a ‘catastrophic quenching’ for large magnetic Reynolds number Rm so that even its sign is reversed. The total magnetic pressure is enhanced by turbulence in the high‐conductivity limit but it is reduced in the low‐conductivity limit. Also in this case the sign of the total pressure may reverse but only for special turbulences with sufficiently large St > 1. The turbulence‐induced terms of the stress tensor are suppressed by strong magnetic fields. For the tension term this quenching grows with the square of the Hartmann number of the magnetic field. For microscopic (i.e. small) diffusivity values the magnetic tension term becomes thus highly quenched even for field amplitudes much smaller than their equipartition value. In the opposite case of large‐eddy simulations the magnetic quenching is only mild but then also the turbulence‐induced Maxwell tensor components for weak fields remain rather small (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献