Astrophysics Consolidated Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Applied Mathematics
Abstract
Many astrophysical phenomena involve complex interactions between magnetic fields and fluid flows, often at parameter values far beyond any terrestrial laboratory experiments. We intend to undertake a systematic programme of research to investigate some of these interactions in several astrophysical objects. We shall utilise a combination of analytical and numerical techniques (including the application of state-of-the-art numerical algorithms optimised for use on massively parallel machines) to gain an understanding of such phenomena. Our unifying philosophy is to investigate the fundamental physical interactions in these astrophysical objects and to use expertise gained in one area in order to make progress in other situations with similar underlying dynamics. In all cases we also intend to connect our theoretical/numerical results with astronomically observable quantities. The specific phenomena that we shall address in this proposal are:
(1) The dynamics of relativistic magnetized flows, such as pulsar wind nebulae.
(2) The magnetic and thermal evolution of highly magnetized neutron stars.
(3) Tidal interactions in rotating stars and extra-solar planets.
(1) The dynamics of relativistic magnetized flows, such as pulsar wind nebulae.
(2) The magnetic and thermal evolution of highly magnetized neutron stars.
(3) Tidal interactions in rotating stars and extra-solar planets.
Planned Impact
The British public has a great deal of interest in astronomy, as evidenced by the more than 200 amateur astronomical societies. We have already been involved in giving talks to such societies, and will expand our impact in this direction. We further intend to describe some of our most interesting results in articles for popular science and astronomy magazines. We believe there is considerable scope for explaining the astrophysical theories believed to be behind some of the astronomical observations.
Regarding more technical items, STFC recognizes three ways of maximizing the impact of its investment for the benefit of the United Kingdom and its people - world-class research, world-class innovation and world-class skills. We believe our work qualifies on all three counts, in terms of the astrophysical research itself, the innovation of fundamentally new numerical methods (which may also be useful in areas outside astrophysics), and the training of Postdocs and PhD students in utilizing high-performance computing skills (which again are enormously useful in many areas outside astrophysics).
Regarding more technical items, STFC recognizes three ways of maximizing the impact of its investment for the benefit of the United Kingdom and its people - world-class research, world-class innovation and world-class skills. We believe our work qualifies on all three counts, in terms of the astrophysical research itself, the innovation of fundamentally new numerical methods (which may also be useful in areas outside astrophysics), and the training of Postdocs and PhD students in utilizing high-performance computing skills (which again are enormously useful in many areas outside astrophysics).
Organisations
Publications
Barkov M
(2016)
Relativistic tearing and drift-kink instabilities in two-fluid simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Child A
(2016)
Generalised quasilinear approximation of the helical magnetorotational instability
in Journal of Plasma Physics
Child A
(2017)
Axisymmetric pulse train solutions in narrow-gap spherical Couette flow
in Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena
Ferdman R
(2018)
The Glitches and Rotational History of the Highly Energetic Young Pulsar PSR J0537-6910
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gellert M
(2016)
NONAXISYMMETRIC MHD INSTABILITIES OF CHANDRASEKHAR STATES IN TAYLOR-COUETTE GEOMETRY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gourgouliatos K
(2018)
Modelling neutron star magnetic fields
in Astronomy & Geophysics
Gourgouliatos K
(2017)
Magnetic Axis Drift and Magnetic Spot Formation in Neutron Stars with Toroidal Fields
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gourgouliatos K
(2018)
Relativistic centrifugal instability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Gourgouliatos K
(2016)
Resistive tearing instability in electron MHD: application to neutron star crusts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gourgouliatos K
(2017)
Reconfinement and loss of stability in jets from active galactic nuclei
in Nature Astronomy
Gourgouliatos KN
(2016)
Magnetic field evolution in magnetar crusts through three-dimensional simulations.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Guseva A
(2017)
Dynamo Action in a Quasi-Keplerian Taylor-Couette Flow.
in Physical review letters
Guseva A
(2017)
Transport Properties of the Azimuthal Magnetorotational Instability
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hollerbach R
(2017)
Absolute versus convective helical magnetorotational instabilities in Taylor-Couette flows
in Fluid Dynamics Research
Hollerbach R
(2016)
Shercliff layers in strongly magnetic cylindrical Taylor-Couette flow
in Comptes Rendus Mécanique
Igoshev A
(2021)
Combined analysis of neutron star natal kicks using proper motions and parallax measurements for radio pulsars and Be X-ray binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Igoshev A
(2019)
Wide binary companions to massive stars and their use in constraining natal kicks
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Igoshev A
(2021)
Evolution of Neutron Star Magnetic Fields
in Universe
Kim J
(2018)
On the linear stability of sheared and magnetized jets without current sheets - relativistic case
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kim J
(2016)
On the linear stability of sheared and magnetized jets without current sheets - non-relativistic case
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kim J
(2017)
On the linear stability of magnetized jets without current sheets - relativistic case
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Komissarov S
(2021)
Numerical simulations of jets
in New Astronomy Reviews
Lyutikov M
(2018)
Particle acceleration in explosive relativistic reconnection events and Crab Nebula gamma-ray flares
in Journal of Plasma Physics
Makarenko E
(2021)
Testing the fossil field hypothesis: could strongly magnetized OB stars produce all known magnetars?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Matsui H
(2016)
Performance benchmarks for a next generation numerical dynamo model
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Matsumoto J
(2021)
Magnetic inhibition of the recollimation instability in relativistic jets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Michaely E
(2020)
Inferred time-scales for common envelope ejection using wide astrometric companions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Porth O
(2017)
Modelling Jets, Tori and Flares in Pulsar Wind Nebulae
in Space Science Reviews
Rüdiger G
(2018)
Stability and instability of hydromagnetic Taylor-Couette flows
in Physics Reports
Rüdiger G
(2018)
Magnetorotational instability in Taylor-Couette flows between cylinders with finite electrical conductivity
in Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Sood A
(2016)
DYNAMICAL MODEL FOR SPINDOWN OF SOLAR-TYPE STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Toma K
(2017)
Rayleigh-Taylor instability in two-component relativistic jets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vidal J
(2018)
Magnetic fields driven by tidal mixing in radiative stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | We developed detailed numerical models of jets emanating from active galactic nuclei, and compared the results with astronomical observations. Such jets can span enormous distances, exceeding the scale of their entire galaxies. Our work helps explain why some jets remain stable for such enormous distances, whereas others do not. |
| Exploitation Route | We ourselves will further develop our models, incorporating more and more relevant astrophysics. Astronomers observing active galactic nuclei and their jets will also be interested, since work such as this helps to explain their observations. |
| Sectors | Education |