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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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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