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Title: Convective overstability in accretion disks: Three-dimensional linear analysis and nonlinear saturation

Abstract

Recently, Klahr and Hubbard claimed that a hydrodynamical linear overstability exists in protoplanetary disks, powered by buoyancy in the presence of thermal relaxation. We analyze this claim, confirming it through rigorous compressible linear analysis. We model the system numerically, reproducing the linear growth rate for all cases studied. We also study the saturated properties of the overstability in the shearing box, finding that the saturated state produces finite amplitude fluctuations strong enough to trigger the subcritical baroclinic instability (SBI). Saturation leads to a fast burst of enstrophy in the box, and a large-scale vortex develops in the course of the next ≈100 orbits. The amount of angular momentum transport achieved is of the order of α ≈ 10{sup –3}, as in compressible SBI models. For the first time, a self-sustained three-dimensional vortex is produced from linear amplitude perturbation of a quiescent base state.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22356454
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 789; Journal Issue: 1; 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; ACCRETION DISKS; ANGULAR MOMENTUM; DISTURBANCES; FLUCTUATIONS; HYDRODYNAMICS; INSTABILITY; PERTURBATION THEORY; PLANETS; PROTOPLANETS; RELAXATION; SATELLITES; SATURATION; THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS

Citation Formats

Lyra, Wladimir. Convective overstability in accretion disks: Three-dimensional linear analysis and nonlinear saturation. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/789/1/77.
Lyra, Wladimir. Convective overstability in accretion disks: Three-dimensional linear analysis and nonlinear saturation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/789/1/77
Lyra, Wladimir. 2014. "Convective overstability in accretion disks: Three-dimensional linear analysis and nonlinear saturation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/789/1/77.
@article{osti_22356454,
title = {Convective overstability in accretion disks: Three-dimensional linear analysis and nonlinear saturation},
author = {Lyra, Wladimir},
abstractNote = {Recently, Klahr and Hubbard claimed that a hydrodynamical linear overstability exists in protoplanetary disks, powered by buoyancy in the presence of thermal relaxation. We analyze this claim, confirming it through rigorous compressible linear analysis. We model the system numerically, reproducing the linear growth rate for all cases studied. We also study the saturated properties of the overstability in the shearing box, finding that the saturated state produces finite amplitude fluctuations strong enough to trigger the subcritical baroclinic instability (SBI). Saturation leads to a fast burst of enstrophy in the box, and a large-scale vortex develops in the course of the next ≈100 orbits. The amount of angular momentum transport achieved is of the order of α ≈ 10{sup –3}, as in compressible SBI models. For the first time, a self-sustained three-dimensional vortex is produced from linear amplitude perturbation of a quiescent base state.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/789/1/77},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22356454}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 789,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}