1. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, et al.
(author)
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Detection of Negative Effective Magnetic Pressure Instability in Turbulence Simulations
- 2011
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In: Astrophysical Journal, ISSN 0004-637X, EISSN 1538-4357. ; 740:2, s. L50-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the first numerical demonstration of the negative effective magnetic pressure instability in direct numerical simulations of stably stratified, externally forced, isothermal hydromagnetic turbulence in the regime of large plasma beta. By the action of this instability, initially uniform horizontal magnetic field forms flux concentrations whose scale is large compared to the turbulent scale. We further show that the magnetic energy of these large-scale structures is only weakly dependent on the magnetic Reynolds number. Our results support earlier mean-field calculations and analytic work that identified this instability. Applications to the formation of active regions in the Sun are discussed.
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2. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, 1959-, et al.
(author)
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Dissipative magnetic structures and scales in small-scale dynamos
- 2022
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 518:4, s. 6367-6375
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Small-scale dynamos play important roles in modern astrophysics, especially on galactic and extragalactic scales. Owing to dynamo action, purely hydrodynamic Kolmogorov turbulence hardly exists and is often replaced by hydromagnetic turbulence. Understanding the size of dissipative magnetic structures is important in estimating the time-scale of galactic scintillation and other observational and theoretical aspects of interstellar and intergalactic small-scale dynamos. Here we show that, during the kinematic phase of the small-scale dynamo, the cutoff wavenumber of the magnetic energy spectra scales as expected for large magnetic Prandtl numbers, but continues in the same way also for moderately small values - contrary to what is expected. For a critical magnetic Prandtl number of about 0.3, the dissipative and resistive cutoffs are found to occur at the same wavenumber. In the non-linearly saturated regime, the critical magnetic Prandtl number becomes unity. The cutoff scale now has a shallower scaling with magnetic Prandtl number below a value of about three, and a steeper one otherwise compared to the kinematic regime.
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3. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, et al.
(author)
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Magnetic concentrations in stratified turbulence : The negative effective magnetic pressure instability
- 2016
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In: New Journal of Physics. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 1367-2630. ; 18:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the presence of strong density stratification, hydromagnetic turbulence attains qualitatively new properties: the formation of magnetic flux concentrations. We review here the theoretical foundations of this mechanism in terms of what is now called the negative effective magnetic pressure instability. We also present direct numerical simulations of forced turbulence in strongly stratified layers and discuss the qualitative and quantitative similarities with corresponding mean-field simulations. Finally, the relevance to sunspot formation is discussed.
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4. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, et al.
(author)
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Mean-field and direct numerical simulations of magnetic flux concentrations from vertical field
- 2014
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 562
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Strongly stratified hydromagnetic turbulence has previously been found to produce magnetic flux concentrations if the domain is large enough compared with the size of turbulent eddies. Mean-field simulations (MFS) using parameterizations of the Reynolds and Maxwell stresses show a large-scale negative effective magnetic pressure instability and have been able to reproduce many aspects of direct numerical simulations (DNS) regarding growth rate, shape of the resulting magnetic structures, and their height as a function of magnetic field strength. Unlike the case of an imposed horizontal field, for a vertical one, magnetic flux concentrations of equipartition strength with the turbulence can be reached, resulting in magnetic spots that are reminiscent of sunspots. Aims. We determine under what conditions magnetic flux concentrations with vertical field occur and what their internal structure is. Methods. We use a combination of MFS, DNS, and implicit large-eddy simulations (ILES) to characterize the resulting magnetic flux concentrations in forced isothermal turbulence with an imposed vertical magnetic field. Results. Using DNS, we confirm earlier results that in the kinematic stage of the large-scale instability the horizontal wavelength of structures is about 10 times the density scale height. At later times, even larger structures are being produced in a fashion similar to inverse spectral transfer in helically driven turbulence. Using ILES, we find that magnetic flux concentrations occur for Mach numbers between 0.1 and 0.7. They occur also for weaker stratification and larger turbulent eddies if the domain is wide enough. Using MFS, the size and aspect ratio of magnetic structures are determined as functions of two input parameters characterizing the parameterization of the effective magnetic pressure. DNS, ILES, and MFS show magnetic flux tubes with mean-field energies comparable to the turbulent kinetic energy. These tubes can reach a length of about eight density scale heights. Despite being <= 1% equipartition strength, it is important that their lower part is included within the computational domain to achieve the full strength of the instability. Conclusions. The resulting vertical magnetic flux tubes are being confined by downflows along the tubes and corresponding inflow from the sides, which keep the field concentrated. Application to sunspots remains a viable possibility.
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5. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, et al.
(author)
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NEGATIVE EFFECTIVE MAGNETIC PRESSURE IN STRATIFIED FORCED TURBULENCE
- 2012
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 749:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To understand the basic mechanism of the formation of magnetic flux concentrations, we determine by direct numerical simulations the turbulence contributions to the mean magnetic pressure in a strongly stratified isothermal layer with large plasma beta, where a weak uniform horizontal mean magnetic field is applied. The negative contribution of turbulence to the effective mean magnetic pressure is determined for strongly stratified forced turbulence over a range of values of magnetic Reynolds and Prandtl numbers. Small-scale dynamo action is shown to reduce the negative effect of turbulence on the effective mean magnetic pressure. However, the turbulence coefficients describing the negative effective magnetic pressure phenomenon are found to converge for magnetic Reynolds numbers between 60 and 600, which is the largest value considered here. In all these models, the turbulent intensity is arranged to be nearly independent of height, so the kinetic energy density decreases with height due to the decrease in density. In a second series of numerical experiments, the turbulent intensity increases with height such that the turbulent kinetic energy density is nearly independent of height. Turbulent magnetic diffusivity and turbulent pumping velocity are determined with the test-field method for both cases. The vertical profile of the turbulent magnetic diffusivity is found to agree with what is expected based on simple mixing length expressions. Turbulent pumping is shown to be down the gradient of turbulent magnetic diffusivity, but it is twice as large as expected. Corresponding numerical mean-field models are used to show that a large-scale instability can occur in both cases, provided the degree of scale separation is large enough and hence the turbulent magnetic diffusivity small enough.
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6. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, et al.
(author)
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NEW SCALING FOR THE ALPHA EFFECT IN SLOWLY ROTATING TURBULENCE
- 2013
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 762:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using simulations of slowly rotating stratified turbulence, we show that the alpha effect responsible for the generation of astrophysical magnetic fields is proportional to the logarithmic gradient of kinetic energy density rather than that of momentum, as was previously thought. This result is in agreement with a new analytic theory developed in this paper for large Reynolds numbers and slow rotation. Thus, the contribution of density stratification is less important than that of turbulent velocity. The a effect and other turbulent transport coefficients are determined by means of the test-field method. In addition to forced turbulence, we also investigate supernova-driven turbulence and stellar convection. In some cases (intermediate rotation rate for forced turbulence, convection with intermediate temperature stratification, and supernova-driven turbulence), we find that the contribution of density stratification might be even less important than suggested by the analytic theory.
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7. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, et al.
(author)
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SELF-ASSEMBLY OF SHALLOW MAGNETIC SPOTS THROUGH STRONGLY STRATIFIED TURBULENCE
- 2013
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 776:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent studies have demonstrated that in fully developed turbulence, the effective magnetic pressure of a large-scale field (non-turbulent plus turbulent contributions) can become negative. In the presence of strongly stratified turbulence, this was shown to lead to a large-scale instability that produces spontaneous magnetic flux concentrations. Furthermore, using a horizontal magnetic field, elongated flux concentrations with a strength of a few percent of the equipartition value were found. Here we show that a uniform vertical magnetic field leads to circular magnetic spots of equipartition field strengths. This could represent a minimalistic model of sunspot formation and highlights the importance of two critical ingredients: turbulence and strong stratification. Radiation, ionization, and supergranulation may be important for realistic simulations, but are not critical at the level of a minimalistic model of magnetic spot formation.
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8. |
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9. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, et al.
(author)
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The Turbulent Chiral Magnetic Cascade in the Early Universe
- 2017
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 845:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The presence of asymmetry between fermions of opposite handedness in plasmas of relativistic particles can lead to exponential growth of a helical magnetic field via a small-scale chiral dynamo instability known as the chiral magnetic effect. Here, we show, using dimensional arguments and numerical simulations, that this process produces through the Lorentz force chiral magnetically driven turbulence. A k(-2) magnetic energy spectrum emerges via inverse transfer over a certain range of wavenumbers k. The total chirality (magnetic helicity plus normalized chiral chemical potential) is conserved in this system. Therefore, as the helical magnetic field grows, most of the total chirality gets transferred into magnetic helicity until the chiral magnetic effect terminates. Quantitative results for height, slope, and extent of the spectrum are obtained. Consequences of this effect for cosmic magnetic fields are discussed.
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10. |
- Elperin, Tov, et al.
(author)
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Clustering of aerosols in atmospheric turbulent flow
- 2007
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In: Environmental Fluid Mechanics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1567-7419 .- 1573-1510. ; 7:2, s. 173-193
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A mechanism of formation of small-scale inhomogeneities in spatial distributions of aerosols and droplets associated with clustering instability in the atmospheric turbulent flow is discussed. The particle clustering is a consequence of a spontaneous breakdown of their homogeneous space distribution due to the clustering instability, and is caused by a combined effect of the particle inertia and a finite correlation time of the turbulent velocity field. In this paper a theoretical approach proposed in Elperin et al. (2002) Phys Rev E 66:036302 is further developed and applied to investigate the mechanisms of formation of small-scale aerosol inhomogeneities in the atmospheric turbulent flow. The theory of the particle clustering instability is extended to the case when the particle Stokes time is larger than the Kolmogorov time scale, but is much smaller than the correlation time at the integral scale of turbulence. We determined the criterion of the clustering instability for the Stokes number larger than 1. We discussed applications of the analyzed effects to the dynamics of aerosols and droplets in the atmospheric turbulent flow.
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11. |
- Elperin, T., et al.
(author)
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Tangling clustering instability for small particles in temperature stratified turbulence
- 2013
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In: Physics of fluids. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-6631 .- 1089-7666. ; 25:8, s. 085104-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We study tangling clustering instability of inertial particles in a temperature stratified turbulence with small finite correlation time. It is shown that the tangling mechanism in the temperature stratified turbulence strongly increases the degree of compressibility of particle velocity field. This results in the strong decrease of the threshold for the excitation of the tangling clustering instability even for small particles. The tangling clustering instability in the temperature stratified turbulence is essentially different from the inertial clustering instability that occurs in non-stratified isotropic and homogeneous turbulence. While the inertial clustering instability is caused by the centrifugal effect of the turbulent eddies, the mechanism of the tangling clustering instability is related to the temperature fluctuations generated by the tangling of the mean temperature gradient by the velocity fluctuations. Temperature fluctuations produce pressure fluctuations and cause particle accumulations in regions with increased instantaneous pressure. It is shown that the growth rate of the tangling clustering instability is root Re (l(0)/L-T)(2)/(3Ma)(4) times larger than that of the inertial clustering instability, where Re is the Reynolds number, Ma is the Mach number, l(0) is the integral turbulence scale, and L-T is the characteristic scale of the mean temperature variations. It is found that depending on the parameters of the turbulence and the mean temperature gradient there is a preferential particle size at which the particle clustering due to the tangling clustering instability is more effective. The particle number density inside the cluster after the saturation of this instability can be by several orders of magnitude larger than the mean particle number density. It is also demonstrated that the evaporation of droplets drastically changes the tangling clustering instability, e. g., it increases the instability threshold in the droplet radius. The tangling clustering instability is of a great importance, e. g., in atmospheric turbulence with temperature inversions.
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12. |
- Haugen, Nils Erland L., et al.
(author)
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Detection of turbulent thermal diffusion of particles in numerical simulations
- 2012
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In: Physics of fluids. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-6631 .- 1089-7666. ; 24:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The phenomenon of turbulent thermal diffusion in temperature-stratified turbulence causing a non-diffusive turbulent flux (i.e., non-counter-gradient transport) of inertial and non-inertial particles in the direction of the turbulent heat flux is found using direct numerical simulations (DNS). In simulations with and without gravity, this phenomenon is found to cause a peak in the particle number density around the minimum of the mean fluid temperature for Stokes numbers less than 1, where the Stokes number is the ratio of particle Stokes time to turbulent Kolmogorov time at the viscous scale. Turbulent thermal diffusion causes the formation of inhomogeneities in the spatial distribution of inertial particles whose scale is large in comparison with the integral scale of the turbulence. The strength of this effect is maximum for Stokes numbers around unity, and decreases again for larger values. The dynamics of inertial particles is studied using Lagrangian modelling in forced temperature-stratified turbulence, whereas non-inertial particles and the fluid are described using DNS in an Eulerian framework.
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13. |
- Jabbari, Sarah, et al.
(author)
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BIPOLAR MAGNETIC SPOTS FROM DYNAMOS IN STRATIFIED SPHERICAL SHELL TURBULENCE
- 2015
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 805:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent work by Mitra et al. (2014) has shown that in strongly stratified forced two-layer turbulence with helicity and corresponding large-scale dynamo action in the lower layer, and nonhelical turbulence in the upper, a magnetic field occurs in the upper layer in the form of sharply bounded bipolar magnetic spots. Here we extend this model to spherical wedge geometry covering the northern hemisphere up to 75 degrees latitude and an azimuthal extent of 180 degrees. The kinetic helicity and therefore also the large-scale magnetic field are strongest at low latitudes. For moderately strong stratification, several bipolar spots form that eventually fill the full longitudinal extent. At early times, the polarity of spots reflects the orientation of the underlying azimuthal field, as expected from Parker's Omega-shaped flux loops. At late times their tilt changes such that there is a radial field of opposite orientation at different latitudes separated by about 10 degrees. Our model demonstrates the spontaneous formation of spots of sizes much larger than the pressure scale height. Their tendency to produce filling factors close to unity is argued to be reminiscent of highly active stars. We confirm that strong stratification and strong scale separation are essential ingredients behind magnetic spot formation, which appears to be associated with downflows at larger depths.
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14. |
- Jabbari, Sarah, et al.
(author)
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Magnetic flux concentrations from dynamo-generated fields
- 2014
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 568
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context The mean field theory of magnetized stellar convection gives rise to two distinct instabilities; the large-scale dynamo instability, operating in the bulk of the convection zone and a negative effective magnetic pressure instability (NEMPI) operating in the strongly stratified surface layers. The latter might be important in connection with magnetic spot formation. However, as follows from theoretical analysis, the growth rate of NEMPI is suppressed with increasing rotation rates. On the other hand, recent direct numerical simulations (DNS) have shown a subsequent increase in the growth rate. Aims. We examine quantitatively whether this increase in the growth rate of NEMPI can be explained by an alpha(2) mean field dynamo, and whether both NEMPI and the dynamo instability can operate at the same time. Methods. We use both DNS and mean field simulations (MFS) to solve the underlying equations numerically either with or without an imposed horizontal held, We use the test-field method to compute relevant dynamo coefficients. Results. DNS show that magnetic flux concentrations are still possible up to rotation rates above which the large-scale dynamo effect produces mean magnetic fields. The resulting DNS growth rates are quantitatively reproduced with MPS. As expected for weak or vanishing rotation, the growth rate of NEMPI increases with increasing gravity, but there is a correction term for strong gravity and large turbulent magnetic diffusivity. Conclusions. Magnetic flux concentrations are still possible for rotation rates above which dynamo action takes over For the solar rotation rate, the corresponding turbulent turnover time is about 5 h, with dynamo action commencing in the layers beneath.
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15. |
- Jabbari, Sarah, et al.
(author)
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Sharp magnetic structures from dynamos with density stratification
- 2017
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 467:3, s. 2753-2765
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent direct numerical simulations (DNS) of large-scale turbulent dynamos in strongly stratified layers have resulted in surprisingly sharp bipolar structures at the surface. Here, we present new DNS of helically and non-helically forced turbulence with and without rotation and compare with corresponding mean-field simulations (MFS) to show that these structures are a generic outcome of a broader class of dynamos in density-stratified layers. The MFS agree qualitatively with the DNS, but the period of oscillations tends to be longer in the DNS. In both DNS and MFS, the sharp structures are produced by converging flows at the surface and might be driven in non-linear stage of evolution by the Lorentz force associated with the large-scale dynamo-driven magnetic field if the dynamo number is at least 2.5 times supercritical.
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16. |
- Jabbari, Sarah, et al.
(author)
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Surface flux concentrations in a spherical alpha 2 dynamo
- 2013
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 556
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. In the presence of strong density stratification, turbulence can lead to the large-scale instability of a horizontal magnetic field if its strength is in a suitable range (around a few percent of the turbulent equipartition value). This instability is related to a suppression of the turbulent pressure so that the turbulent contribution to the mean magnetic pressure becomes negative. This results in the excitation of a negative effective magnetic pressure instability (NEMPI). This instability has so far only been studied for an imposed magnetic field. Aims. We want to know how NEMPI works when the mean magnetic field is generated self-consistently by an alpha(2) dynamo, whether it is affected by global spherical geometry, and whether it can influence the properties of the dynamo itself. Methods. We adopt the mean-field approach, which has previously been shown to provide a realistic description of NEMPI in direct numerical simulations. We assume axisymmetry and solve the mean-field equations with the Pencil Code for an adiabatic stratification at a total density contrast in the radial direction of approximate to 4 orders of magnitude. Results. NEMPI is found to work when the dynamo-generated field is about 4% of the equipartition value, which is achieved through strong alpha quenching. This instability is excited in the top 5% of the outer radius, provided the density contrast across this top layer is at least 10. NEMPI is found to occur at lower latitudes when the mean magnetic field is stronger. For weaker fields, NEMPI can make the dynamo oscillatory with poleward migration. Conclusions. NEMPI is a viable mechanism for producing magnetic flux concentrations in a strongly stratified spherical shell in which a magnetic field is generated by a strongly quenched alpha effect dynamo.
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17. |
- Jabbari, Sarah, et al.
(author)
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Turbulent reconnection of magnetic bipoles in stratified turbulence
- 2016
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 459:4, s. 4046-4056
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We consider strongly stratified forced turbulence in a plane-parallel layer with helicity and corresponding large-scale dynamo action in the lower part and non-helical turbulence in the upper. The magnetic field is found to develop strongly concentrated bipolar structures near the surface. They form elongated bands with a sharp interface between opposite polarities. Unlike earlier experiments with imposed magnetic field, the inclusion of rotation does not strongly suppress the formation of these structures. We perform a systematic numerical study of this phenomenon by varying magnetic Reynolds number, scale-separation ratio, and Coriolis number. We focus on the formation of a current sheet between bipolar regions where reconnection of oppositely oriented field lines occurs. We determine the reconnection rate by measuring either the inflow velocity in the vicinity of the current sheet or by measuring the electric field in the reconnection region. We demonstrate that for large Lundquist numbers, S > 10(3), the reconnection rate is nearly independent of S in agreement with results of recent numerical simulations performed by other groups in simpler settings.
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18. |
- Kemel, Koen, et al.
(author)
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Active Region Formation through the Negative Effective Magnetic Pressure Instability
- 2013
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In: Solar Physics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0038-0938 .- 1573-093X. ; 287:1-2, s. 293-313
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The negative effective magnetic-pressure instability operates on scales encompassing many turbulent eddies, which correspond to convection cells in the Sun. This instability is discussed here in connection with the formation of active regions near the surface layers of the Sun. This instability is related to the negative contribution of turbulence to the mean magnetic pressure that causes the formation of large-scale magnetic structures. For an isothermal layer, direct numerical simulations and mean-field simulations of this phenomenon are shown to agree in many details, for example the onset of the instability occurs at the same depth. This depth increases with increasing field strength, such that the growth rate of this instability is independent of the field strength, provided the magnetic structures are fully contained within the domain. A linear stability analysis is shown to support this finding. The instability also leads to a redistribution of turbulent intensity and gas pressure that could provide direct observational signatures.
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19. |
- Kemel, Koen, et al.
(author)
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Non-uniformity effects in the negative effective magnetic pressure instability
- 2013
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In: Physica Scripta. - 0031-8949 .- 1402-4896. ; T155
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In direct numerical simulations of strongly stratified turbulence we have previously studied the development of large scale magnetic structures starting from a uniform background field. This is caused by an instability resulting from a negative contribution of small-scale turbulence to the effective (mean-field) magnetic pressure, and was qualitatively reproduced in mean-field simulations (MFS) where this pressure reduction was modeled as a function of the mean magnetic field normalized by the equipartition field. We now investigate the effect of mean current density on the turbulent pressure reduction. In our MFS, such currents are associated with sharp gradients of the growing structures. We find that an enhanced mean current density increases the suppression of the turbulent pressure.
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20. |
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21. |
- Kemel, Koen, et al.
(author)
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Properties of the negative effective magnetic pressure instability
- 2012
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In: Astronomical Notes - Astronomische Nachrichten. - : Wiley. - 0004-6337 .- 1521-3994. ; 333:2, s. 95-100
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As was demonstrated in earlier studies, turbulence can result in a negative contribution to the effective mean magnetic pressure, which, in turn, can cause a large-scale instability. In this study, hydromagnetic mean-field modelling is performed for an isothermally stratified layer in the presence of a horizontal magnetic field. The negative effective magnetic pressure instability (NEMPI) is comprehensively investigated. It is shown that, if the effect of turbulence on the mean magnetic tension force vanishes, which is consistent with results from direct numerical simulations of forced turbulence, the fastest growing eigenmodes of NEMPI are two-dimensional. The growth rate is found to depend on a parameter beta(star) characterizing the turbulent contribution of the effective mean magnetic pressure for moderately strong mean magnetic fields. A fit formula is proposed that gives the growth rate as a function of turbulent kinematic viscosity, turbulent magnetic diffusivity, the density scale height, and the parameter beta(star). The strength of the imposed magnetic field does not explicitly enter provided the location of the vertical boundaries are chosen such that the maximum of the eigenmode of NEMPI fits into the domain. The formation of sunspots and solar active regions is discussed as possible applications of NEMPI.
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22. |
- Kemel, Koen, et al.
(author)
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Spontaneous formation of magnetic flux concentrations in stratified turbulence
- 2012
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In: Solar Physics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0038-0938 .- 1573-093X. ; 280:2, s. 321-333
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The negative effective magnetic pressure instability discovered recently in direct numerical simulations (DNSs) may play a crucial role in the formation of sunspots and active regions in the Sun and stars. This instability is caused by a negative contribution of turbulence to the effective mean Lorentz force (the sum of turbulent and non-turbulent contributions) and results in the formation of large-scale inhomogeneous magnetic structures from an initially uniform magnetic field. Earlier investigations of this instability in DNSs of stably stratified, externally forced, isothermal hydromagnetic turbulence in the regime of large plasma β are now extended into the regime of larger scale separation ratios where the number of turbulent eddies in the computational domain is about 30. Strong spontaneous formation of large-scale magnetic structures is seen even without performing any spatial averaging. These structures encompass many turbulent eddies. The characteristic time of the instability is comparable to the turbulent diffusion time, L2/ηt, where ηt is the turbulent diffusivity and L is the scale of the domain. DNSs are used to confirm that the effective magnetic pressure does indeed become negative for magnetic field strengths below the equipartition field. The dependence of the effective magnetic pressure on the field strength is characterized by fit parameters that seem to show convergence for larger values of the magnetic Reynolds number
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23. |
- Kleeorin, Nathan, et al.
(author)
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Energy and flux budget closure theory for passive scalar in stably stratified turbulence
- 2021
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In: Physics of fluids. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-6631 .- 1089-7666. ; 33:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The energy and flux budget (EFB) closure theory for a passive scalar (non-buoyant and non-inertial particles or gaseous admixtures) is developed for stably stratified turbulence. The physical background of the EFB turbulence closures is based on the budget equations for the turbulent kinetic and potential energies and turbulent fluxes of momentum and buoyancy as well as the turbulent flux of particles. The EFB turbulence closure is designed for stratified geophysical flows from neutral to very stable stratification, and it implies that turbulence is maintained by the velocity shear at any stratification. In a steady-state, expressions for the turbulent flux of the passive scalar and the anisotropic non-symmetric turbulent diffusion tensor are derived, and universal flux Richardson number dependencies of the components of this tensor are obtained. The diagonal component in the vertical direction of the turbulent diffusion tensor is suppressed by strong stratification, while the diagonal components in the horizontal directions are not suppressed, but they are dominant in comparison with the other components of the turbulent diffusion tensor. This implies that any initially created strongly inhomogeneous particle cloud is evolved into a thin pancake in a horizontal plane with very slow increase in its thickness in the vertical direction. The turbulent Schmidt number (the ratio of the eddy viscosity and the vertical turbulent diffusivity of the passive scalar) linearly increases with the gradient Richardson number. The physics of such a behavior is related to the buoyancy force that causes a correlation between fluctuations of the potential temperature and the particle number density. This correlation that is proportional to the product of the vertical turbulent particle flux and the vertical gradient of the mean potential temperature reduces the vertical turbulent particle flux. Considering the applications of these results to the atmospheric boundary-layer turbulence, the theoretical relationships are derived, which allows us to determine the turbulent diffusion tensor as a function of the vertical coordinate measured in the units of the local Obukhov length scale. The obtained relations are potentially useful in modeling applications of particle dispersion in the atmospheric boundary-layer turbulence and free atmosphere turbulence.
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24. |
- Kleeorin, Nathan, et al.
(author)
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Generation of large-scale vorticity in rotating stratified turbulence with inhomogeneous helicity : mean-field theory
- 2018
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In: Journal of Plasma Physics. - : CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS. - 0022-3778 .- 1469-7807. ; 84:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We discuss a mean-field theory of the generation of large-scale vorticity in a rotating density stratified developed turbulence with inhomogeneous kinetic helicity. We show that the large-scale non-uniform flow is produced due to either a combined action of a density stratified rotating turbulence and uniform kinetic helicity or a combined effect of a rotating incompressible turbulence and inhomogeneous kinetic helicity. These effects result in the formation of a large-scale shear, and in turn its interaction with the small-scale turbulence causes an excitation of the large-scale instability (known as a vorticity dynamo) due to a combined effect of the large-scale shear and Reynolds stress-induced generation of the mean vorticity. The latter is due to the effect of large-scale shear on the Reynolds stress. A fast rotation suppresses this large-scale instability.
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25. |
- Kleeorin, Nathan, et al.
(author)
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Internal gravity waves in the energy and flux budget turbulence-closure theory for shear-free stably stratified flows
- 2019
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In: Physical review. E. - : American Physical Society. - 2470-0045 .- 2470-0053. ; 99:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have advanced the energy and flux budget turbulence closure theory that takes into account a two-way coupling between internal gravity waves (IGWs) and the shear-free stably stratified turbulence. This theory is based on the budget equation for the total (kinetic plus potential) energy of IGWs, the budget equations for the kinetic and potential energies of fluid turbulence, and turbulent fluxes of potential temperature for waves and fluid flow. The waves emitted at a certain level propagate upward, and the losses of wave energy cause the production of turbulence energy. We demonstrate that due to the nonlinear effects more intensive waves produce more strong turbulence, and this, in turn, results in strong damping of IGWs. As a result, the penetration length of more intensive waves is shorter than that of less intensive IGWs. The anisotropy of the turbulence produced by less intensive IGWs is stronger than that caused by more intensive waves. The low-amplitude IGWs produce turbulence consisting up to 90% of turbulent potential energy. This resembles the properties of the observed high-altitude tropospheric strongly anisotropic (nearly two-dimensional) turbulence.
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