Parallel Computing Resources for the UK MHD Community
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Mathematics and Statistics
Abstract
Virtually all material in the universe consists of an ionised gas called a plasma. Plasmas conduct electricity and interact with magnetic fields, producing many physical phenomena not easily reproduced in laboratories on Earth. The large-scale behaviour of these plasmas can be predicted by using a known set of complicated mathematical equations, called the equations of Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The solutions of MHD equations can describe the behaviour of plasmas in which collisions dominate the physical processes, such as (i) the generation of magnetic fields through a process known as dynamo action, (ii) the release of a staggering amount of magnetic energy in a large solar flare by magnetic reconnection, (iii) the small scale chaotic motions of turbulence in a magnetised plasma, (iv) the fact that solar atmosphere is much hotter than the solar surface and (v) the way in which gigantic eruptions of solar plasma interact with the Earth's magnetic field to produce the Aurora. When collisional effects are weak, in low-density plasmas and in problems involving short length-scales, the more fundamental kinetic equations must be solved. However, the solution of both sets of equations require extremely large computers and the best way is to link several hundred computers together and get them all working on a fraction of the large problem. These computers are called parallel computers. The UK effort in this research area is at the forefront of the worldwide effort to understand how the Sun, the Solar System and astrophysical plasmas work. While this work is essentially theoretical, it is driven by the observations of the present fleet of solar and astrophysical ground and space-based observatories.
Organisations
Publications
Teed R
(2012)
On the necessary conditions for bursts of convection within the rapidly rotating cylindrical annulus
in Physics of Fluids
Dritschel D
(2012)
Two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the small magnetic Prandtl number limit
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Botha G
(2012)
OBSERVATIONAL SIGNATURES OF THE CORONAL KINK INSTABILITY WITH THERMAL CONDUCTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pechhacker R
(2012)
The effect of electron beam pitch angle and density gradient on solar type III radio bursts
in Physics of Plasmas
D Simitev R
(2012)
Bistable attractors in a model of convection-driven spherical dynamos
in Physica Scripta
D Simitev R
(2012)
Solar cycle properties described by simple convection-driven dynamos
in Physica Scripta
Jess D
(2012)
THE ORIGIN OF TYPE I SPICULE OSCILLATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pontin DI
(2012)
Theory of magnetic reconnection in solar and astrophysical plasmas.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
McLaughlin J
(2012)
On the periodicity of oscillatory reconnection
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Wyper P
(2012)
Spine-fan reconnection The influence of temporal and spatial variation in the driver
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Tsiklauri D
(2012)
Three dimensional particle-in-cell simulation of particle acceleration by circularly polarised inertial Alfven waves in a transversely inhomogeneous plasma
in Physics of Plasmas
Gordovskyy M
(2012)
Effect of Collisions and Magnetic Convergence on Electron Acceleration and Transport in Reconnecting Twisted Solar Flare Loops
in Solar Physics
McLaughlin J
(2012)
GENERATION OF QUASI-PERIODIC WAVES AND FLOWS IN THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERE BY OSCILLATORY RECONNECTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Barker A
(2012)
Magnetic buoyancy instabilities in the presence of magnetic flux pumping at the base of the solar convection zone Magnetic buoyancy and flux pumping
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thurgood J
(2012)
Linear and nonlinear MHD mode coupling of the fast magnetoacoustic wave about a 3D magnetic null point
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
MacTaggart D
(2012)
Finite deformation in ideal magnetohydrodynamics
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kong D
(2012)
ON THE VARIATION OF ZONAL GRAVITY COEFFICIENTS OF A GIANT PLANET CAUSED BY ITS DEEP ZONAL FLOWS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Morton R
(2012)
DETERMINATION OF SUB-RESOLUTION STRUCTURE OF A JET BY SOLAR MAGNETOSEISMOLOGY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mizerski K
(2012)
Large-scale convective dynamos in a stratified rotating plane layer
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Wareing C
(2012)
RECONCILING THE EMISSION MECHANISM DISCREPANCY IN MIRA'S TAIL AND ITS EVOLUTION IN AN INTERFACE WITH SHEAR
in The Astrophysical Journal
Yeates A
(2012)
Lagrangian coherent structures in photospheric flows and their implications for coronal magnetic structure
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pechhacker R
(2012)
Electron cyclotron maser emission mode coupling to the z-mode on a longitudinal density gradient in the context of solar type III bursts
in Physics of Plasmas
Hood A
(2013)
Damping of kink waves by mode coupling I. Analytical treatment?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Wyper P
(2013)
Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in a current-vortex sheet at a 3D magnetic null
in Physics of Plasmas
Meyer K
(2013)
THE STORAGE AND DISSIPATION OF MAGNETIC ENERGY IN THE QUIET SUN CORONA DETERMINED FROM SDO /HMI MAGNETOGRAMS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Russell A
(2013)
PROPAGATION OF ALFVÉNIC WAVES FROM CORONA TO CHROMOSPHERE AND CONSEQUENCES FOR SOLAR FLARES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gent F
(2013)
The supernova-regulated ISM - II. The mean magnetic field
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
MacTaggart D
(2013)
Non-symmetric magnetohydrostatic equilibria: a multigrid approach
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Archontis V
(2013)
A NUMERICAL MODEL OF STANDARD TO BLOWOUT JETS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Archontis V
(2013)
THE EMERGENCE OF WEAKLY TWISTED MAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE SUN
in The Astrophysical Journal
Maddox C
(2013)
Paid carers' experiences of caring for mechanically ventilated children at home: implications for services and training.
in Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community
Pascoe D
(2013)
Damping of kink waves by mode coupling II. Parametric study and seismology
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Zhang K
(2013)
The non-resonant response of fluid in a rapidly rotating sphere undergoing longitudinal libration
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Archontis V
(2013)
ERRATUM: "A NUMERICAL MODEL OF STANDARD TO BLOWOUT JETS" (2013, ApJL, 769, L21)
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2013)
THE INFLUENCE OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD ON RUNNING PENUMBRAL WAVES IN THE SOLAR CHROMOSPHERE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Russell A
(2013)
Production of small-scale Alfvén waves by ionospheric depletion, nonlinear magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and phase mixing
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Schmitz H
(2013)
The effect of initial conditions on the electromagnetic radiation generation in type III solar radio bursts
in Physics of Plasmas
Tobias S
(2013)
On the measurement of the turbulent diffusivity of a large-scale magnetic field
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Russell A
(2013)
Solar flares and focused energy transport by MHD waves
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pagano P
(2013)
Effect of gravitational stratification on the propagation of a CME
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Arregui I
(2013)
DETERMINATION OF TRANSVERSE DENSITY STRUCTURING FROM PROPAGATING MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC WAVES IN THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lamb D
(2013)
SOLAR MAGNETIC TRACKING. IV. THE DEATH OF MAGNETIC FEATURES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pagano P
(2013)
Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the ejection of a magnetic flux rope
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Schrijver C
(2013)
PATHWAYS OF LARGE-SCALE MAGNETIC COUPLINGS BETWEEN SOLAR CORONAL EVENTS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wareing C
(2013)
A composite equation of state for the modeling of sonic carbon dioxide jets in carbon capture and storage scenarios
in AIChE Journal
Favier B
(2013)
On the problem of large-scale magnetic field generation in rotating compressible convection
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Gunár S
(2013)
Non-linear force-free magnetic dip models of quiescent prominence fine structures
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pascoe D
(2013)
Fast magnetoacoustic wave trains in magnetic funnels of the solar corona
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Yeates A
(2013)
Unique topological characterization of braided magnetic fields
in Physics of Plasmas
Meyer K
(2013)
Solar Magnetic Carpet III: Coronal Modelling of Synthetic Magnetograms
in Solar Physics
| Description | The computations carried out with this equipment has shown us how magnetic fields play a crucial role in many astrophysical objects such as the Sun, stars, accretion discs and galaxies. |
| Exploitation Route | The research results will be used to extend our knowledge and suggest new areas for research. Our work has stimulated others to use many of our computational techniques in other areas of research. |
| Sectors | Education Other |