Hydromagnetic buoyancy force in the solar atmosphere

An extraneous magnetized body, either a flux tube or a plasmoid, immersed in the solar atmosphere is subjected to a hydromagnetic buoyancy force. It results from the peripheral inhomogeneity of ambient hydromagnetic pressure, which is caused or enhanced by the presence of the extraneous body. This extra-caused force acts at various mass elements of the immersed body through its distribution as a nearly uniform force density, just like the gravitational force. Since hydromagnetic buoyancy force comprises hydrostatic buoyancy force, hydrodynamic lift force, and magnetostatic diamagnetic force, this constitutes a magnetohydrodynamic generalization of Archimedes' principle which deals with hydrostatic buoyancy force.In the solar atmosphere hydromagnetic buoyancy force has an obliquely upward direction, with a component in the direction opposite to the downward gravity. It provides an upward force to counterbalance or even to exceed the downward gravitational force. Such an upward force is the dynamic cause for the stationary equilibrium of quiescent prominences and outward motion of coronal transients.     

A dynamical model of prominence loops

A dynamical model of prominence loops is constructed on the basis of the theory of hydromagnetic buoyancy force. A prominence loop is regarded as a flux rope immersed in the solar atmosphere above a bipolar region of the photospheric magnetic field. The motion of a loop is partitioned into a translational motion, which accounts for the displacement of the centroidal axis of the loop, and an expansional motion, which accounts for the displacement of the periphery of the loop relative to the axis. The translational motion is driven by the hydromagnetic buoyancy force exerted by the surrounding medium of the solar atmosphere and the gravitational force exerted by the Sun. The expansional motion is driven by the pressure gradient that sustains the pressure difference between internal and external gas pressures and the self-induced Lorentz force that results from interactions among internal currents. The main constituent of the hydromagnetic buoyancy force on a prominence loop is the diamagnetic force exerted on the internal currents by the external currents that sustain the pre-existing magnetic field. By spatial transformation between magnetic and mechanical stresses, the diamagnetic force is manifested through a mechanical force acting at various mass elements of the prominence. For a prominence loop in equilibrium, the gravitational force is balanced by the hydromagnetic buoyancy force and the Lorentz force of helical magnetic field is balanced by a gradient force of gas pressure.     

Existence and linear stability of equilibrium points in the Robe's restricted three body problem when the first primary is an oblate spheroid

The existence and linear stability of equilibrium points in the Robe's restricted three body problem have been studied after considering the full buoyancy force as in Plastino and Plastino and by assuming the hydrostatic equilibrium figure of the first primary as an oblate spheroid. The pertinent equations of motion are derived and existence of all equilibrium points is discussed. It is found that there is an equilibrium point near the centre of the first primary. Further there can be one more equilibrium point on the line joining the centre of the first primary and second primary and infinite number of equilibrium points lying on a circle in the orbital plane of the second primary provided the parameters occurring in the problem satisfy certain conditions. So, there can be infinite number of equilibrium points contrary to the classical restricted three body problem.     

Robe’s Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem Under Oblate and Triaxial Primaries

This paper analyzes Robe??s circular restricted three-body problem when the hydrostatic equilibrium figure of the first primary is assumed to be an oblate spheroid, the shape of the second primary is considered as a triaxial rigid body, and the full buoyancy force of the fluid is taken into account. It is found that there is an equilibrium point near the center of the first primary, another equilibrium point exists on the line joining the centers of the primaries and there exist infinite number of equilibrium points on an ellipse in the orbital plane of the second primary. It is also observed that under certain conditions, all these equilibrium points can be stable. The most interesting and distinguishable results of this study are the existence of elliptical points and their stability.     

Model calculations of the rising motion of a prominence loop

Model calculations are presented for the rising motion of the top section of a prominence loop, which is represented by a straight flux rope immersed in a coronal medium permeated with a bipolar magnetic field. Initially the prominence is at rest, in equilibrium with the surrounding coronal medium. When the magnetic monopoles that account for the source current for the bipolar field strengthen, the upward hydromagnetic buoyancy force overcomes the downward gravitational force so that the prominence is initiated into rising motion. The illustrative examples show that prominences can move away from the solar surface by the action of the hydromagnetic buoyancy force, which is preponderant with the diamagnetic force due to the current carried by the prominence interacting with the coronal magnetic field produced by the photospheric currents, if the changes in the photospheric magnetic field are sufficiently large.     

Out-of-plane equilibrium points and their stability in the Robe’s problem with oblateness and triaxiality

This paper examines the existence and stability of the out-of-plane equilibrium points of a third body of infinitesimal mass when the equations of motion are written in the three dimensional form under the set up of the Robe’s circular restricted three-body problem, in which the hydrostatic equilibrium figure of the first primary is an oblate spheroid and the second one is a triaxial rigid body under the full buoyancy force of the fluid. The existence of the out of orbital plane equilibrium points lying on the xz-plane is noticed. These points are however unstable in the linear sense.     

Effects of zonal harmonics on the out-of-plane equilibrium points in the generalized Robe's circular restricted three-body problem

This article examines the effects of the zonal harmonics on the out-of-plane equilibrium points of Robe's circular restricted three-body problem when the hydrostatic equilibrium shape of the first primary is an oblate spheroid, the shape of the second primary is an oblate spheroid with oblateness coefficients up to the second zonal harmonic, and the full buoyancy of the fluid is considered. It is observed that the size of the oblateness and the zonal harmonics affect the positions of the out-of-plane equilibrium points L₆ and L₇. It is also observed that these points within the possible region of motion are unstable.     

On non-axisymmetric magnetic equilibria in stars

In previous work, stable approximately axisymmetric equilibrium configurations for magnetic stars were found by numerical simulation. Here, I investigate the conditions under which more complex, non-axisymmetric configurations can form. I present numerical simulations of the formation of stable equilibria from turbulent initial conditions and demonstrate the existence of non-axisymmetric equilibria consisting of twisted flux tubes lying horizontally below the surface of the star, meandering around the star in random patterns. Whether such a non-axisymmetric equilibrium or a simple axisymmetric equilibrium forms depends on the radial profile of the strength of the initial magnetic field. The results could explain observations of non-dipolar fields on stars such as the B0.2 main-sequence star τ Sco or the pulsar 1E 1207.4-5209. The secular evolution of these equilibria due to Ohmic and buoyancy processes is also examined.     

The shape of buoyant coronal loops in a magnetic field and the eruption of coronal transients and prominences

The equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties of a coronal loop embedded in a stratified isothermal atmosphere are investigated. The shape of the loop is determined by a balance between magnetic tension, buoyancy, and external pressure gradients. The footpoints of the loop are anchored in the photosphere; if they are moved too far apart, no equilibrium is possible and the loop erupts upwards. This critical separation is independent of the pressure differential between the loop and the external medium if the loop has enhanced magnetic field, but varies if instead the loop pressure is increased. The maximum width is proportional to the larger of the gravitational scale-height and the length-scale of the ambient field. In some circumstances, it is shown that multiple solutions exist for the tube path. These results may be relevant to the eruption of prominences during the preflare phase of two-ribbon flares and to the onset of coronal loop transients. Such eruptions may occur if the footpoint separation, internal pressure or internal magnetic field are too great.     

A form-factor method for determing the structure of distorted stars

The equilibrium equations of a uniformly rotating and tidally distorted star are reduced to the same form as for a spherical star except for the inclusion of two form factors. One factor, expressing the buoyancy effects of centrifugal force, is determined directly from the integrated structure variables. The other factor, expressing the deviation from spherical shape, is shown to be relatively insensitive to errors in the assumed shape, so that accurate solutions are obtained in spite of the use of ana priori shape. The method is employed by adding computations for the factors to an existing spherical model program. Upper Main Sequence models determined by this method compare closely with results from the double approximation method even for critical rotation and tidal distortion.     

The magnetic field transfer in the solar convective zone

The large-scale azimuth magnetic field is pumping to the bottom of the solar convective zone due to the diamagnetic action of turbulent conductive fluids. When the field at the bottom is of about 10³ G, an equilibrium is established between diamagnetic pumping and buoyancy.If, in addition to the density gradient, an additional anisotropy exists (for instance, due to rotation), another mechanism of the magnetic field transfer appears, the efficiency of which greatly depends on the magnitude of the anistropy parameter.     

Dynamical behavior of strong magnetic fields in the solar convection zone

Magnetic buoyancy is thought to play an important role in the dynamical behavior of the Sun's magnetic field in the convection zone. Magnetic buoyancy is commonly thought to cause inescapable rapid loss of toroidal flux from much of the convection zone, thereby suppressing effective operation of a solar dynamo. This paper re-examines the detailed character of magnetic buoyancy, especially as it is influenced by the magnetic field's effect on heat transport and temperature gradients in the convection zone. It is suggested that suppression of convective heat transport across strong magnetic flux tubes can alter the temperature within the tubes and can subdue, or even reverse, the effect of magnetic buoyancy.     

The magnetic non-equilibrium of buoyant flux tubes in the solar corona

The equilibrium shape of a slender flux tube in the stratified solar atmosphere is studied. The path is determined by a balance between the downwards magnetic tension, which depends on the curvature of the loop, and the upwards buoyancy force. Previous results for untwisted slender tubes are extended to include twisted tubes embedded in an external magnetic field.The path of an untwisted tube in an atmosphere with an ambient magnetic field is calculated. For a given footpoint separation, the height of the tube is lowered by increasing the strength of the external magnetic field. If the footpoints are slowly moved apart, the tube rises, until a threshold separation is reached beyond which there is no possible equilibrium height. This threshold width does not depend on the strength of the external field.The effects of twisting up a curved loop are studied, using an extension of results obtained for slender curved tubes with a straight axis. It is shown that for a twisted tube of given width, there can be two possible values of the equilibrium height. If, however, the tube is twisted more than a certain amount or if the footpoints are too widely separated there is no equilibrium. The critical footpoint separation for non-equilibrium is smaller for a twisted tube that an untwisted one.Twisting a tube or moving its feet apart is thus likely to result in non-equilibrium, causing the tube to rise indefinitely under the influence of the unbalanced buoyant force. It is suggested that this phenomenon could be important in the preflare stage of a large two-ribbon solar flare, by causing the initial slow rise of an active region filament. As well as being involved in the onset of an erupting prominence, this non-equilibrium may also be relevant to the formation of coronal loop transients.     

SOUSA: the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive

This paper studies the motion of an infinitesimal mass in the framework of Robe’s circular restricted three-body problem in two cases; the first case is when the hydrostatic equilibrium figure of the first primary is an oblate spheroid, the shape of the second primary is considered as an oblate spheroid with oblateness coefficients up to the second zonal harmonic, while the first primary is a Roche ellipsoid in the second case and the full buoyancy of the fluid is taken into account. In case one; it is observed that there are two axial libration points on the line joining the centres of the primaries, points on the circle within the first primary are also libration points under certain conditions. It is further found that the first axial point is stable, while the second one is conditionally stable, and the circular points are unstable. It is found in case two that there is exist only one libration point (0,0,0) this point is stable.     

Dynamo-generated magnetic fields at the surface of a massive star

Spruit has shown that an astrophysical dynamo can operate in the non-convective material of a differentially rotating star as a result of a particular instability in the magnetic field (the Tayler instability). By assuming that the dynamo operates in a state of marginal instability, Spruit has obtained formulae which predict the equilibrium strengths of azimuthal and radial field components in terms of local physical quantities. Here, we apply Spruit's formulae to our previously published models of rotating massive stars in order to estimate Tayler dynamo field strengths. There are no free parameters in Spruit's formulae. In our models of 10- and  50-M_⊙  stars on the zero-age main sequence, we find internal azimuthal fields of up to 1 MG, and internal radial components of a few kG. Evolved models contain weaker fields. In order to obtain estimates of the field strength at the stellar surface, we examine the conditions under which the Tayler dynamo fields are subject to magnetic buoyancy. We find that conditions for Tayler instability overlap with those for buoyancy at intermediate to high magnetic latitudes. This suggests that fields emerge at the surface of a massive star between magnetic latitudes of about 45° and the poles. We attempt to estimate the strength of the field which emerges at the surface of a massive star. Although these estimates are very rough, we find that the surface field strengths overlap with values which have been reported recently for line-of-sight fields in several O and B stars.     

The hydrodynamics of dead radio galaxies

We present a numerical investigation of dead, or relic, radio galaxies and the environmental impact that radio galaxy activity has on the host galaxy or galaxy cluster. We perform axisymmetric hydrodynamical calculations of light, supersonic, back-to-back jets propagating in a β -model galaxy/cluster atmosphere. We then shut down the jet activity and let the resulting structure evolve passively. The dead source undergoes an initial phase of pressure driven expansion until it achieves pressure equilibrium with its surroundings. Thereafter, buoyancy forces drive the evolution and lead to the formation of two oppositely directed plumes that float high into the galaxy/cluster atmosphere. These plumes entrain a significant amount of low entropy material from the galaxy/cluster core and lift it high into the atmosphere. An important result is that a large fraction (at least half) of the energy injected by the jet activity is thermalized in the interstellar medium (ISM)/intracluster medium (ICM) core. The whole ISM/ICM atmosphere inflates in order to regain hydrostatic equilibrium. This inflation is mediated by an approximately spherical disturbance which propagates into the atmosphere at the sound speed. The fact that such a large fraction of the injected energy is thermalized suggests that radio galaxies may have an important role in the overall energy budget of rich ISM/ICM atmospheres. In particular, they may act as a strong and highly time-dependent source of negative feedback for galaxy/cluster cooling flows.     

A mean electromotive force induced by magnetic buoyancy instabilities

For a variety of reasons, based on results from magnetoconvection, self-consistent dynamo calculations and helioseismology, it seems plausible that the bulk of the solar magnetic field is located in the overshoot zone. Furthermore, it has also been suggested that the solar dynamo is operating in this region. The aim of this paper is then to show that it is possible to obtain a mean electromotive force (EMF), and hence an α -effect, in the convectively stable overshoot zone, which is driven by magnetic buoyancy instabilities.
By investigating the stability of a layer of magnetic field embedded between two non-magnetic layers of plasma we are able to show the following: first, that magnetic buoyancy instabilities indeed give rise to a mean EMF and, secondly, that the electromotive force is largest in the region where the magnetic layer is unstable, i.e. where the field strength decreases fastest with height.
Moreover, the influence of the rotation rate and the magnetic field strength on the magnetic buoyancy instability has been investigated in order to determine for which values of these parameters dynamo action might occur.     

Dynamics of gravitational instability excitation in viscoelastic polytropic fluids

The evolutionary excitation dynamics of the gravitational instability in a self-gravitating viscoelastic non-thermal polytropic complex fluid is semi-analytically explored on the astro-scales of space and time. The polytropic equation of state is well validated for the hydrostatic equilibrium established by a perfect heating-cooling balancing in the uni-component complex fluid. We apply a generalized gravitating hydrodynamic model in the concurrent presence of buoyancy, thermal fluctuations, volumetric expansion, and so forth. A normal mode (local) analysis yields a quadratic linear dispersion relation with a unique set of multi-parametric coefficients. The analytical reliability is checked by comparing with the existing reports on purely ideal inviscid nebular fluids and non-ideal viscoelastic fluids in isolation. It is seen that, unlike the normal instability mechanisms, the instability here remains unaffected due to the thermo-mechanical diffusion processes. The stabilizing (destabilizing) and accelerating (decelerating) factors of the instability are illustratively explored. The instability features are judged in the light of both impure non-ideal viscoelastic fluid and pure ideal inviscid nebular fluid scenarios. The relevancy of our exploration in superdense compact viscoelastic astro-objects and their surrounding atmospheres is summarily outlined.     

Mixed convection over a horizontal plate with vectored mass transfer in a transverse magnetic field

An exact similarity solution is presented for developing mixed convection flows of electrically conducting fluids over a semi-infinite horizontal plate with vectored mass transfer at the wall which are subjected to an applied transverse magnetic field. This solution is given for the case of a wall temperature that is inversely proportional to the square root of the distance from the leading edge. By application of appropriate coordinate transformations, the governing momentum and energy boundary-layer equations are expressed as a set of coupled ordinary differential equations that depend on a magnetic parameter, the buoyancy parameter, and the Prandtl number. The shear stress, the total heat transfer, and the displacement thickness are calculated for different values of both buoyancy and magnetic parameters.     

A magnetohydrodynamic theory of coronal loop transients

A magnetohydrodynamic theory is presented for coronal loop transients. It is shown that the heliocentrifugal motion of a transient loop, as exhibited by the translational displacement of the axis of the loop, is driven by the magnetohydrodynamic buoyancy force exerted by the ambient medium. Self-induced hydromagnetic force, which includes the magnetic force produced by the internally driven current and the thermal force produced by the pressure imbalance between the internal and external gas pressures, causes the peripheral expansion of the loop, as exhibited by the lateral broadening and longitudinal stretching. This contention is substantiated by an analysis based on a model structure for a coronal loop.Besides accounting for the acceleration and expansion of a transient loop, this magnetohydrodynamic theory also provides an explanation for the initial ejection of a coronal loop from stationary equilibrium. Magnetic unwinding in consequence of abrupt magnetic activities at the solar surface will cause the periphery of a stationary coronal loop to expand. The increase in volume will enhance the magnetohydrodynamic buyoyancy force to exceed the gravitational force. Once a coronal loop is ejected from the solar surface, it will be continually accelerated and undergo expansion. Eventually a transient loop will blend with the ambient solar wind. This is also indicated by the theory presented in this paper.