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
Mizerski K
(2012)
Large-scale convective dynamos in a stratified rotating plane layer
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Tsiklauri D
(2012)
Three dimensional particle-in-cell simulation of particle acceleration by circularly polarised inertial Alfven waves in a transversely inhomogeneous plasma
in Physics of Plasmas
Moschou S
(2012)
SDO Observations of Solar Jets
in Solar Physics
Simitev R
(2012)
HOW FAR CAN MINIMAL MODELS EXPLAIN THE SOLAR CYCLE?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Morton R
(2012)
DETERMINATION OF SUB-RESOLUTION STRUCTURE OF A JET BY SOLAR MAGNETOSEISMOLOGY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pontin D
(2012)
ON THE FORMATION OF CURRENT SHEETS IN RESPONSE TO THE COMPRESSION OR EXPANSION OF A POTENTIAL MAGNETIC FIELD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wyper P
(2012)
Spine-fan reconnection The influence of temporal and spatial variation in the driver
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kong D
(2012)
ON THE VARIATION OF ZONAL GRAVITY COEFFICIENTS OF A GIANT PLANET CAUSED BY ITS DEEP ZONAL FLOWS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Yeates A
(2012)
Lagrangian coherent structures in photospheric flows and their implications for coronal magnetic structure
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Thurgood J
(2012)
Linear and nonlinear MHD mode coupling of the fast magnetoacoustic wave about a 3D magnetic null point
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Botha G
(2012)
OBSERVATIONAL SIGNATURES OF THE CORONAL KINK INSTABILITY WITH THERMAL CONDUCTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2012)
THE ORIGIN OF TYPE I SPICULE OSCILLATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Teed R
(2012)
On the necessary conditions for bursts of convection within the rapidly rotating cylindrical annulus
in Physics of Fluids
Wareing C
(2012)
RECONCILING THE EMISSION MECHANISM DISCREPANCY IN MIRA'S TAIL AND ITS EVOLUTION IN AN INTERFACE WITH SHEAR
in The Astrophysical Journal
Barker A
(2012)
Magnetic buoyancy instabilities in the presence of magnetic flux pumping at the base of the solar convection zone Magnetic buoyancy and flux pumping
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McLaughlin J
(2012)
On the periodicity of oscillatory reconnection
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bushby P
(2012)
Convectively driven dynamo action in the quiet Sun
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Pechhacker R
(2012)
The effect of electron beam pitch angle and density gradient on solar type III radio bursts
in Physics of Plasmas
MacTaggart D
(2012)
Finite deformation in ideal magnetohydrodynamics
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
Meyer K
(2013)
Solar Magnetic Carpet III: Coronal Modelling of Synthetic Magnetograms
in Solar Physics
Pascoe D
(2013)
Damping of kink waves by mode coupling II. Parametric study and seismology
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lapenta G
(2013)
SWIFF: Space weather integrated forecasting framework
in Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
Gent F
(2013)
The supernova-regulated ISM - I. The multiphase structure
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
Yeates A
(2013)
Unique topological characterization of braided magnetic fields
in Physics of Plasmas
Russell A
(2013)
Production of small-scale Alfvén waves by ionospheric depletion, nonlinear magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and phase mixing
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Zhang K
(2013)
The non-resonant response of fluid in a rapidly rotating sphere undergoing longitudinal libration
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Gunár S
(2013)
Non-linear force-free magnetic dip models of quiescent prominence fine structures
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Favier B
(2013)
On the problem of large-scale magnetic field generation in rotating compressible convection
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Pagano P
(2013)
Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the ejection of a magnetic flux rope
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Buckley MC
(2013)
Localized oscillatory states in magnetoconvection.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Pagano P
(2013)
Effect of gravitational stratification on the propagation of a CME
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Meyer K
(2013)
THE STORAGE AND DISSIPATION OF MAGNETIC ENERGY IN THE QUIET SUN CORONA DETERMINED FROM SDO /HMI MAGNETOGRAMS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Russell A
(2013)
Solar flares and focused energy transport by MHD waves
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Yeates A
(2013)
Kinematic active region formation in a three-dimensional solar dynamo model
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tobias S
(2013)
On the measurement of the turbulent diffusivity of a large-scale magnetic field
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Schrijver C
(2013)
PATHWAYS OF LARGE-SCALE MAGNETIC COUPLINGS BETWEEN SOLAR CORONAL EVENTS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2013)
THE INFLUENCE OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD ON RUNNING PENUMBRAL WAVES IN THE SOLAR CHROMOSPHERE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Woolley R
(2013)
Experimental measurement and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes modelling of the near-field structure of multi-phase CO2 jet releases
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Archontis V
(2013)
THE EMERGENCE OF WEAKLY TWISTED MAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE SUN
in The Astrophysical Journal
MacTaggart D
(2013)
Non-symmetric magnetohydrostatic equilibria: a multigrid approach
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Russell A
(2013)
PROPAGATION OF ALFVÉNIC WAVES FROM CORONA TO CHROMOSPHERE AND CONSEQUENCES FOR SOLAR FLARES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wyper P
(2013)
Reconnection at three dimensional magnetic null points: Effect of current sheet asymmetry
in Physics of Plasmas
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
Wyper P
(2013)
Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in a current-vortex sheet at a 3D magnetic null
in Physics of Plasmas
Fuentes-Fernández J
(2013)
Magnetohydrodynamics dynamical relaxation of coronal magnetic fields IV. 3D tilted nulls
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pascoe D
(2013)
Fast magnetoacoustic wave trains in magnetic funnels of the solar corona
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Simões P
(2013)
IMPLOSION OF CORONAL LOOPS DURING THE IMPULSIVE PHASE OF A SOLAR FLARE
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 |