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
Gruszecki M
(2010)
Phenomenon of Alfvénic vortex shedding.
in Physical review letters
Gruszecki M
(2011)
Magnetoacoustic shock formation near a magnetic null point
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gruszecki M
(2011)
Slow magnetacoustic waves in magnetic arcades
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gunár S
(2013)
Non-linear force-free magnetic dip models of quiescent prominence fine structures
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Houghton S
(2011)
Localized plumes in three-dimensional compressible magnetoconvection Localized plumes in magnetoconvection
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hughes D
(2013)
The effect of velocity shear on dynamo action due to rotating convection
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Hughes D
(2009)
Dynamo action in the presence of an imposed magnetic field
in Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Hughes D
(2011)
The a-effect in rotating convection: a comparison of numerical simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Hughes DW
(2010)
Turbulent magnetic diffusivity tensor for time-dependent mean fields.
in Physical review letters
Hughes DW
(2009)
Large-scale dynamo action driven by velocity shear and rotating convection.
in Physical review letters
Jess D
(2009)
Alfve´n Waves in the Lower Solar Atmosphere
in Science
Jess D
(2013)
THE INFLUENCE OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD ON RUNNING PENUMBRAL WAVES IN THE SOLAR CHROMOSPHERE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2012)
THE ORIGIN OF TYPE I SPICULE OSCILLATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ji Y
(2014)
Asymptotic solutions for mean-field slab dynamos
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Jones C
(2011)
Planetary Magnetic Fields and Fluid Dynamos
in Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics
Jones C
(2011)
Anelastic convection-driven dynamo benchmarks
in Icarus
Jones C
(2009)
The Solar Dynamo
in Space Science Reviews
Jones C
(2009)
Compressible convection in the deep atmospheres of giant planets
in Icarus
JONES C
(2009)
Linear theory of compressible convection in rapidly rotating spherical shells, using the anelastic approximation
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Komissarov S
(2010)
Rarefaction acceleration of ultrarelativistic magnetized jets in gamma-ray burst sources Rarefaction acceleration of magnetized GRB jets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Komissarov S
(2009)
Magnetic acceleration of ultrarelativistic jets in gamma-ray burst sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Komissarov S
(2010)
Supercollapsars and their X-ray bursts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Komissarov S
(2011)
On the origin of variable gamma-ray emission from the Crab nebula Gamma-ray emission from the Crab nebula
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Komissarov S
(2009)
Activation of the Blandford-Znajek mechanism in collapsing stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kong D
(2012)
ON THE VARIATION OF ZONAL GRAVITY COEFFICIENTS OF A GIANT PLANET CAUSED BY ITS DEEP ZONAL FLOWS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lamb D
(2013)
SOLAR MAGNETIC TRACKING. IV. THE DEATH OF MAGNETIC FEATURES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lapenta G
(2013)
SWIFF: Space weather integrated forecasting framework
in Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
Liang Y
(2011)
Observations of multi-resonance effect in ELM control with magnetic perturbation fields on the JET tokamak
in Nuclear Fusion
Liao X
(2009)
Inertial oscillation, inertial wave and initial value problem in rotating annular channels
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
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
Maclean R
(2008)
Relationship between the topological skeleton, current concentrations, and 3D magnetic reconnection sites in the solar atmosphere
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
MacTaggart D
(2011)
Flux emergence within mature solar active regions
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
MacTaggart D
(2014)
On magnetic reconnection and flux rope topology in solar flux emergence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
MacTaggart D
(2013)
Non-symmetric magnetohydrostatic equilibria: a multigrid approach
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
MacTaggart D
(2012)
Finite deformation in ideal magnetohydrodynamics
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
McLaughlin J
(2012)
GENERATION OF QUASI-PERIODIC WAVES AND FLOWS IN THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERE BY OSCILLATORY RECONNECTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
McLaughlin J
(2012)
On the periodicity of oscillatory reconnection
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Meyer K
(2013)
Solar Magnetic Carpet III: Coronal Modelling of Synthetic Magnetograms
in Solar Physics
Meyer K
(2013)
THE STORAGE AND DISSIPATION OF MAGNETIC ENERGY IN THE QUIET SUN CORONA DETERMINED FROM SDO /HMI MAGNETOGRAMS
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Morton R
(2012)
DETERMINATION OF SUB-RESOLUTION STRUCTURE OF A JET BY SOLAR MAGNETOSEISMOLOGY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Morton R
(2009)
TRANSVERSE OSCILLATIONS OF A COOLING CORONAL LOOP
in The Astrophysical Journal
Morton R
(2009)
The effect of elliptic shape on the period ratio P ${_{1}}$/ P ${_{2}}$ of emerging coronal loops
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Moschou S
(2012)
SDO Observations of Solar Jets
in Solar Physics
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
Pagano P
(2013)
Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the ejection of a magnetic flux rope
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pagano P
(2013)
Effect of gravitational stratification on the propagation of a CME
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pascoe D
(2013)
Damping of kink waves by mode coupling II. Parametric study and seismology
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 |