A Rolling Grant in Astrophysical Fluids
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Applied Mathematics
Abstract
Many astrophysical phenomena involve the complex interaction between magnetic fields, rotation and fluid flows. We intend to undertake a systematic and integrated programme of research to investigate this complex interaction in a wide variety of astrophysical objects. We shall utilise a combination of analytical and numerical techniques (including the application of cutting edge numerical algorithms optimised for use on massively parallel machines) to gain an understanding of such phenomena. Our unifying philosophy is to investigate the underlying fundamental physical interactions in these astrophysical fluids and to use expertise gained in one area in order to make progress on different objects that have the same underlying physical structures. The physical phenomena that we address are (1) The generation of magnetic fields in the Sun, including the formation of the well-known eleven year sunspot cycle. (2) The structure of sunspots and the link with the magnetic fields in the solar corona. (3) The form of convection and the generation of magnetic fields in planets. (4) The decay of magnetic fields and the thermal structure of neutron stars (5) The dynamics of rapidly-rotating stars. (6) The origin of turbulence and the the role of magnetic fields in accretion disks.
Publications
Botha G
(2012)
Formation of magnetic flux tubes in cylindrical wedge geometry
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Botha G
(2011)
NONLINEAR THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAGNETOCONVECTION AROUND MAGNETIC FLUX TUBES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bowker J
(2014)
Incorporating velocity shear into the magneto-Boussinesq approximation
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Brummell N
(2010)
Dynamo efficiency in compressible convective dynamos with and without penetration
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Davies C
(2011)
THE MEAN ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE RESULTING FROM MAGNETIC BUOYANCY INSTABILITY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dritschel D
(2012)
Two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the small magnetic Prandtl number limit
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Feudel F
(2011)
Convection patterns in a spherical fluid shell.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Gellert M
(2011)
Helicity and a-effect by current-driven instabilities of helical magnetic fields Helicity by current-driven instabilities
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hollerbach R
(2010)
Nonaxisymmetric magnetorotational instabilities in cylindrical Taylor-Couette flow.
in Physical review letters
Hood A
(2011)
Solar magnetic fields
in Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors
Houghton S
(2011)
Localized plumes in three-dimensional compressible magnetoconvection Localized plumes in magnetoconvection
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hughes D
(2011)
The a-effect in rotating convection: a comparison of numerical simulations The a-effect in rotating convection
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Hughes D
(2013)
The effect of velocity shear on dynamo action due to rotating convection
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Hughes DW
(2010)
Turbulent magnetic diffusivity tensor for time-dependent mean fields.
in Physical review letters
Jones C
(2011)
Anelastic convection-driven dynamo benchmarks
in Icarus
Kondic T
(2011)
The shear-Hall instability in newborn neutron stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Livermore P
(2010)
Nonlinear generation of large-scale magnetic fields in forced spherical shell dynamos
in Physics of Fluids
Mizerski K
(2013)
SHORT-WAVELENGTH MAGNETIC BUOYANCY INSTABILITY
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Mizerski K
(2012)
Large-scale convective dynamos in a stratified rotating plane layer
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Mizerski K
(2011)
The effect of stratification and compressibility on anelastic convection in a rotating plane layer
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Rüdiger G
(2010)
Dissipative Taylor-Couette flows under the influence of helical magnetic fields.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Sreenivasan B
(2011)
Helicity generation and subcritical behaviour in rapidly rotating dynamos
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Teed R
(2012)
On the necessary conditions for bursts of convection within the rapidly rotating cylindrical annulus
in Physics of Fluids
Tobias S
(2011)
ON THE GENERATION OF ORGANIZED MAGNETIC FIELDS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Tobias S
(2013)
On the measurement of the turbulent diffusivity of a large-scale magnetic field
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Tobias S
(2011)
ASTROPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS VIA DIRECT STATISTICAL SIMULATION
in The Astrophysical Journal
| Description | We have advanced our understanding of the nature of the turbulent motions inside the Sun, and, in particular, how these are influence by the Sun's strong magnetic field. |
| Exploitation Route | We are actively working on this topic, exploring in more depth the nature of the solar tachocline, a region of strong shear located at depth in the Sun, and believed to be instrumental in the generation of the Sun's magnetic field. |
| Sectors | Other |
| Description | Leverhulme |
| Amount | £81,915 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2008 |
| End | 09/2009 |
| Description | NERC |
| Amount | £542,607 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2011 |
| End | 03/2014 |
| Description | NERC |
| Amount | £542,607 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2011 |
| End | 04/2014 |
| Description | STFC |
| Amount | £662,140 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2010 |
| End | 04/2013 |
| Description | Brown |
| Organisation | Brunel University London |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Joint research into astrophysical fluid dynamics |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint research into astrophysical fluid dynamics. |
| Impact | A joint research paper has been published |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Cambridge |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative research projects in astrophysical fluid dynamics |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research into astrophysical fluid dynamics |
| Impact | Joint research papers |
| Description | Cambridge |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative research projects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research projects. |
| Impact | Several joint papers. |
| Description | Chicago |
| Organisation | University of Chicago |
| Department | Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative research project. Shared computer resources. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above. |
| Impact | Several journal papers. |
| Description | Chicago |
| Organisation | University of Chicago |
| Department | Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research collaboration in astrophysical fluid dynamics. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint research papers |
| Impact | Joint papers on astrophysical fluid dynamics. |
| Description | Daejeon |
| Organisation | National Fusion Research Institute |
| Country | Korea, Republic of |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative research project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research project. |
| Impact | Research papers. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | UC Santa Cruz |
| Organisation | University of California, Santa Cruz |
| Department | Applied Mathematics and Statistics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative astrophysical research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above. |
| Impact | Journal papers and postdoc exchanges. |
| Description | Grenoble |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | One of the investigators will give a Public Lecture in Grenoble on Solar Physics. Yet to take place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Radio Berlin, to explain one of the fluid dynamics experiments conducted in space and, more generally, wider topics in astrophysical fluid dynamics. . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Schools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Both investigators give talks to secondary schools across the country, ranging from year 7 students through to sixth-formers. These always are well-received, and provide a way of informing students about the beauties of science beyond what they learn at school and also some taste of post-school science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011 |