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
CATTANEO F
(2009)
Dynamo properties of the turbulent velocity field of a saturated dynamo
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Cattaneo F
(2009)
Problems with kinematic mean field electrodynamics at high magnetic Reynolds numbers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
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
COURVOISIER A
(2009)
Mean induction and diffusion: the influence of spatial coherence
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Courvoisier A
(2010)
A self-consistent treatment of the electromotive force in magnetohydrodynamics for large diffusivities
in Astronomische Nachrichten
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
Deng X
(2009)
Dynamics and waves near multiple magnetic null points in reconnection diffusion region
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Dritschel D
(2012)
Two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the small magnetic Prandtl number limit
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Favier B
(2013)
On the problem of large-scale magnetic field generation in rotating compressible convection
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Favier B
(2011)
Small-scale dynamo action in rotating compressible convection
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Fedun V
(2011)
FREQUENCY FILTERING OF TORSIONAL ALFVÉN WAVES BY CHROMOSPHERIC MAGNETIC FIELD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Fedun V
(2009)
Oscillatory Response of the 3D Solar Atmosphere to the Leakage of Photospheric Motion
in Solar Physics
Fedun V
(2011)
MHD waves generated by high-frequency photospheric vortex motions
in Annales Geophysicae
Fuentes-Fernández J
(2013)
Magnetohydrodynamics dynamical relaxation of coronal magnetic fields IV. 3D tilted nulls
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Galsgaard K
(2011)
Steady state reconnection at a single 3D magnetic null point
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Galsgaard K
(2011)
Current accumulation at an asymmetric 3D null point caused by generic shearing motions
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gent F
(2013)
The supernova-regulated ISM - I. The multiphase structure
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gent F
(2013)
The supernova-regulated ISM - II. The mean magnetic field
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Gordovskyy M
(2012)
Effect of Collisions and Magnetic Convergence on Electron Acceleration and Transport in Reconnecting Twisted Solar Flare Loops
in Solar Physics
Gordovskyy M
(2010)
Particle acceleration in a transient magnetic reconnection event
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gordovskyy M
(2011)
Magnetic Relaxation and Particle Acceleration in a Flaring Twisted Coronal Loop
in Solar Physics
Gordovskyy M
(2010)
PARTICLE ACCELERATION IN FRAGMENTING PERIODIC RECONNECTING CURRENT SHEETS IN SOLAR FLARES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gordovskyy M
(2011)
PARTICLE ACCELERATION BY MAGNETIC RECONNECTION IN A TWISTED CORONAL LOOP
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gordovskyy M
(2014)
Particle acceleration and transport in reconnecting twisted loops in a stratified atmosphere
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
| 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 |