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
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
Muñoz-Jaramillo A
(2010)
A DOUBLE-RING ALGORITHM FOR MODELING SOLAR ACTIVE REGIONS: UNIFYING KINEMATIC DYNAMO MODELS AND SURFACE FLUX-TRANSPORT SIMULATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Yeates A
(2011)
A generalized flux function for three-dimensional magnetic reconnection
in Physics of Plasmas
Bareford M
(2010)
A nanoflare distribution generated by repeated relaxations triggered by kink instability
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Liao X
(2008)
A new integral property of inertial waves in rotating fluid spheres
in Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Courvoisier A
(2010)
A self-consistent treatment of the electromotive force in magnetohydrodynamics for large diffusivities
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Shelyag S
(2009)
Acoustic wave propagation in the solar sub-photosphere with localised magnetic field concentration: effect of magnetic tension
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Komissarov S
(2009)
Activation of the Blandford-Znajek mechanism in collapsing stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jess D
(2009)
Alfve´n Waves in the Lower Solar Atmosphere
in Science
Tsiklauri D
(2011)
An alternative to the plasma emission model: Particle-in-cell, self-consistent electromagnetic wave emission simulations of solar type III radio bursts
in Physics of Plasmas
Chan Kit H.
(2010)
An EBE finite element method for simulating nonlinear flows in rotating spheroidal cavities
in INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS
Jones C
(2011)
Anelastic convection-driven dynamo benchmarks
in Icarus
Tobias S
(2011)
ASTROPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS VIA DIRECT STATISTICAL SIMULATION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ji Y
(2014)
Asymptotic solutions for mean-field slab dynamos
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Simitev R
(2009)
Bistability and hysteresis of dipolar dynamos generated by turbulent convection in rotating spherical shells
in EPL (Europhysics Letters)
D Simitev R
(2012)
Bistable attractors in a model of convection-driven spherical dynamos
in Physica Scripta
Botha G
(2011)
CHROMOSPHERIC RESONANCES ABOVE SUNSPOT UMBRAE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Berkoff N
(2010)
Comparison of the anelastic approximation with fully compressible equations for linear magnetoconvection and magnetic buoyancy
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Jones C
(2009)
Compressible convection in the deep atmospheres of giant planets
in Icarus
Bian N
(2009)
Compressible Hall magnetohydrodynamics in a strong magnetic field
in Physics of Plasmas
Bushby P
(2012)
Convectively driven dynamo action in the quiet Sun
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Yeates A
(2013)
Coronal Magnetic Field Evolution from 1996 to 2012: Continuous Non-potential Simulations
in Solar Physics
Galsgaard K
(2011)
Current accumulation at an asymmetric 3D null point caused by generic shearing motions
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pascoe D
(2013)
Damping of kink waves by mode coupling II. Parametric study and seismology
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Morton R
(2012)
DETERMINATION OF SUB-RESOLUTION STRUCTURE OF A JET BY SOLAR MAGNETOSEISMOLOGY
in The Astrophysical Journal
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 |