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Title: Numerical simulations of active region scale flux emergence: From spot formation to decay

Abstract

We present numerical simulations of active region scale flux emergence covering a time span of up to 6 days. Flux emergence is driven by a bottom boundary condition that advects a semi-torus of magnetic field with 1.7 × 10{sup 22} Mx flux into the computational domain. The simulations show that, even in the absence of twist, the magnetic flux is able the rise through the upper 15.5 Mm of the convection zone and emerge into the photosphere to form spots. We find that spot formation is sensitive to the persistence of upflows at the bottom boundary footpoints, i.e., a continuing upflow would prevent spot formation. In addition, the presence of a torus-aligned flow (such flow into the retrograde direction is expected from angular momentum conservation during the rise of flux ropes through the convection zone) leads to a significant asymmetry between the pair of spots, with the spot corresponding to the leading spot on the Sun being more axisymmetric and coherent, but also forming with a delay relative to the following spot. The spot formation phase transitions directly into a decay phase. Subsurface flows fragment the magnetic field and lead to intrusions of almost field free plasma underneath the photosphere.more » When such intrusions reach photospheric layers, the spot fragments. The timescale for spot decay is comparable to the longest convective timescales present in the simulation domain. We find that the dispersal of flux from a simulated spot in the first two days of the decay phase is consistent with self-similar decay by turbulent diffusion.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. High Altitude Observatory, NCAR, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 (United States)
  2. Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory, 3251 Hanover St, Palo Alto, CA 94304 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22357123
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 785; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; ANGULAR MOMENTUM; ASYMMETRY; BOUNDARY CONDITIONS; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; CONVECTION; COVERINGS; DECAY; DIFFUSION; LAYERS; MAGNETIC FIELDS; MAGNETIC FLUX; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; PHOTOSPHERE; PLASMA; PLUTONIC ROCKS; RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER; SUN; WATER INFLUX

Citation Formats

Rempel, M., and Cheung, M. C. M.,. Numerical simulations of active region scale flux emergence: From spot formation to decay. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/785/2/90.
Rempel, M., & Cheung, M. C. M.,. Numerical simulations of active region scale flux emergence: From spot formation to decay. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/785/2/90
Rempel, M., and Cheung, M. C. M.,. 2014. "Numerical simulations of active region scale flux emergence: From spot formation to decay". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/785/2/90.
@article{osti_22357123,
title = {Numerical simulations of active region scale flux emergence: From spot formation to decay},
author = {Rempel, M. and Cheung, M. C. M.,},
abstractNote = {We present numerical simulations of active region scale flux emergence covering a time span of up to 6 days. Flux emergence is driven by a bottom boundary condition that advects a semi-torus of magnetic field with 1.7 × 10{sup 22} Mx flux into the computational domain. The simulations show that, even in the absence of twist, the magnetic flux is able the rise through the upper 15.5 Mm of the convection zone and emerge into the photosphere to form spots. We find that spot formation is sensitive to the persistence of upflows at the bottom boundary footpoints, i.e., a continuing upflow would prevent spot formation. In addition, the presence of a torus-aligned flow (such flow into the retrograde direction is expected from angular momentum conservation during the rise of flux ropes through the convection zone) leads to a significant asymmetry between the pair of spots, with the spot corresponding to the leading spot on the Sun being more axisymmetric and coherent, but also forming with a delay relative to the following spot. The spot formation phase transitions directly into a decay phase. Subsurface flows fragment the magnetic field and lead to intrusions of almost field free plasma underneath the photosphere. When such intrusions reach photospheric layers, the spot fragments. The timescale for spot decay is comparable to the longest convective timescales present in the simulation domain. We find that the dispersal of flux from a simulated spot in the first two days of the decay phase is consistent with self-similar decay by turbulent diffusion.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/785/2/90},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22357123}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 2,
volume = 785,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}