Astrophysics Consolidated Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Applied Mathematics
Abstract
Many astrophysical phenomena involve complex interactions between magnetic fields and fluid flows, often at parameter values far beyond any terrestrial laboratory experiments. We intend to undertake a systematic programme of research to investigate some of these interactions in several astrophysical objects. We shall utilise a combination of analytical and numerical techniques (including the application of state-of-the-art numerical algorithms optimised for use on massively parallel machines) to gain an understanding of such phenomena. Our unifying philosophy is to investigate the fundamental physical interactions in these astrophysical objects and to use expertise gained in one area in order to make progress in other situations with similar underlying dynamics. In all cases we also intend to connect our theoretical/numerical results with astronomically observable quantities. The specific phenomena that we shall address in this proposal are:
(1) Relativistic jets emanating from active galactic nuclei, and the physics governing instabilities that eventually develop over sufficiently large distances from their origin.
(2) Tidal flows in stars and planets, and how the energy dissipated by them affects the evolution of extra-solar planetary systems and binary stars.
(3) Magnetic and thermal evolution of highly magnetised neutron stars, and how this relates to the bursts and flares observed in such stars.
(4) The atmospheres of extra-solar planets, and how they respond to extremely asymmetric heating from their parent stars.
(1) Relativistic jets emanating from active galactic nuclei, and the physics governing instabilities that eventually develop over sufficiently large distances from their origin.
(2) Tidal flows in stars and planets, and how the energy dissipated by them affects the evolution of extra-solar planetary systems and binary stars.
(3) Magnetic and thermal evolution of highly magnetised neutron stars, and how this relates to the bursts and flares observed in such stars.
(4) The atmospheres of extra-solar planets, and how they respond to extremely asymmetric heating from their parent stars.
Planned Impact
The British public has a great deal of interest in astronomy, as evidenced by the more than 200 amateur astronomical societies. We have already been involved in giving talks to such societies, and will expand our impact in this direction. We further intend to describe some of our most interesting results in articles for popular science and astronomy magazines. We believe there is considerable scope for explaining the astrophysical theories believed to be behind some of the astronomical observations.
Regarding more technical items, STFC recognizes three ways of maximizing the impact of its investment for the benefit of the United Kingdom and its people - world-class research, world-class innovation and world-class skills. We believe our work qualifies on all three counts, in terms of the astrophysical research itself, the innovation of fundamentally new numerical methods (which may also be useful in areas outside astrophysics), and the training of Postdocs and PhD students in utilizing high-performance computing skills (which again are enormously useful in many areas outside astrophysics).
Regarding more technical items, STFC recognizes three ways of maximizing the impact of its investment for the benefit of the United Kingdom and its people - world-class research, world-class innovation and world-class skills. We believe our work qualifies on all three counts, in terms of the astrophysical research itself, the innovation of fundamentally new numerical methods (which may also be useful in areas outside astrophysics), and the training of Postdocs and PhD students in utilizing high-performance computing skills (which again are enormously useful in many areas outside astrophysics).
Organisations
Publications
Astoul A
(2023)
Tidally Excited Inertial Waves in Stars and Planets: Exploring the Frequency-dependent and Averaged Dissipation with Nonlinear Simulations
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Astoul A
(2022)
The effects of non-linearities on tidal flows in the convective envelopes of rotating stars and planets in exoplanetary systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barker A
(2021)
On the interaction between fast tides and convection
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Barker A
(2021)
On the interaction between fast tides and convection
Barker A
(2022)
Tidal Dissipation Due to Inertial Waves Can Explain the Circularization Periods of Solar-type Binaries
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Barker A
(2020)
Tidal dissipation in evolving low-mass and solar-type stars with predictions for planetary orbital decay
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barker A
(2023)
On the orbital decay of the gas giant Kepler-1658b
Barker A
(2024)
On the orbital decay of the gas giant Kepler-1658b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Currie L
(2020)
Convection with misaligned gravity and rotation: simulations and rotating mixing length theory
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dandoy V
(2023)
How tidal waves interact with convective vortices in rapidly rotating planets and stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
De Vries N
(2023)
The interactions of the elliptical instability and convection
De Vries N
(2023)
The interactions of the elliptical instability and convection
in Physics of Fluids
De Vries N
(2023)
Tidal dissipation due to the elliptical instability and turbulent viscosity in convection zones in rotating giant planets and stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dhouib H
(2024)
Hydrodynamic modelling of dynamical tide dissipation in Jupiter's interior as revealed by Juno
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Duguid C
(2019)
Tidal flows with convection: frequency-dependence of the effective viscosity and evidence for anti-dissipation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Duguid C
(2020)
Convective turbulent viscosity acting on equilibrium tidal flows: new frequency scaling of the effective viscosity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Duguid C
(2024)
An Efficient Tidal Dissipation Mechanism via Stellar Magnetic Fields
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Dymott R
(2023)
Linear and non-linear properties of the Goldreich-Schubert-Fricke instability in stellar interiors with arbitrary local radial and latitudinal differential rotation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gourgouliatos K
(2022)
Magnetic Field Evolution in Neutron Star Crusts: Beyond the Hall Effect
in Symmetry
Gourgouliatos K
(2020)
Powering Central Compact Objects with a Tangled Crustal Magnetic Field
Guo Z
(2023)
Tidally excited gravity waves in the cores of solar-type stars: resonances and critical-layer formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Igoshev A
(2022)
Initial periods and magnetic fields of neutron stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Igoshev A
(2021)
3D Magnetothermal Simulations of Tangled Crustal Magnetic Field in Central Compact Objects
in The Astrophysical Journal
Igoshev A
(2020)
Magnetic field decay in young radio pulsars
Igoshev A
(2020)
Powering central compact objects with a tangled crustal magnetic field
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | We conducted the first three-dimensional numerical modelling of the evolution of magnetic fields and temperature in the crusts of neutron stars, incorporating the effects that astrophysicists believe to be most important. Previously astrophysicists had considered the underlying physical processes, and were (reasonably) confident that they had correctly identified the most important effects (in particular the Hall effect and Ohmic diffusion for the evolution of the magnetic field, and Ohmic heating and anisotropic diffusion for the temperature). It was therefore possible to formulate equations governing the evolution of these quantities, but before our work nobody had successfully implemented a numerical code to actually solve these equations. With our new code in place, we were further able to make comparisons with astronomical data, and showed that our numerically computed solutions are in good agreement with X-ray emissions from a number of magnetars (neutron stars with ultra-powerful magnetic fields). |
| Exploitation Route | Neutron star astronomers will be interested to compare their observations against some of our numerically computed models. To properly interpret any astronomical observations, it is always best to have detailed theoretical models of what such astrophysical processes might be expected to look like. |
| Sectors | Education |
| URL | https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/maths-research-innovation/news/article/5670/modelling-temperature-variation-on-distant-stars |