CONVECTIVE BABCOCK-LEIGHTON DYNAMO MODELS

Journal Article · Mon Feb 20 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/746/2/L26· OSTI ID:22048028

Miesch, Mark S ^[1]

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1. High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307-3000 (United States)

We present the first global, three-dimensional simulations of solar/stellar convection that take into account the influence of magnetic flux emergence by means of the Babcock-Leighton (BL) mechanism. We have shown that the inclusion of a BL poloidal source term in a convection simulation can promote cyclic activity in an otherwise steady dynamo. Some cycle properties are reminiscent of solar observations, such as the equatorward propagation of toroidal flux near the base of the convection zone. However, the cycle period in this young sun (rotating three times faster than the solar rate) is very short ({approx}6 months) and it is unclear whether much longer cycles may be achieved within this modeling framework, given the high efficiency of field generation and transport by the convection. Even so, the incorporation of mean-field parameterizations in three-dimensional convection simulations to account for elusive processes such as flux emergence may well prove useful in the future modeling of solar and stellar activity cycles.

• OSTI ID: 22048028
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 746; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ASTROPHYSICS
CARBON MONOXIDE
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONVECTION
EFFICIENCY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MEAN-FIELD THEORY
STELLAR ACTIVITY
SUN
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS