Nonaxisymmetric magnetic field generation in rapidly rotating late-type stars

Moss, D. (2005) Nonaxisymmetric magnetic field generation in rapidly rotating late-type stars. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 432. pp. 249-259. ISSN 0004-6361

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Abstract

Recently the discovery of the “flip-flop” phenomenon, by which a predominant “active” longitude jumps by about 180 °, on several rapidly rotating late-type stars has directed attention to the issues surrounding the presence of large-scale nonaxisymmetric magnetic fields in these objects. Here we study nonlinear mean field dynamo models with quasi-cylindrical rotation laws, acting in spherical shells. Stable nonaxisymmetric magnetic fields are found to be generated for a range of parameters and, for certain of these models, jumps in a measure plausibly related to the position of active longitudes are found to occur. In general, nonaxisymmetric fields appear to be easier to generate in thinner dynamo-active regions. However, flip-flops appear to be stronger for intermediate thicknesses of the dynamo-active shells.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	magnetic fields, magnetohydrodynamics, stars: activity, stars: late-type, stars: rotation, stars: magnetic fields
Subjects:	PACS 2010, the AIP's Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme > 90 GEOPHYSICS, ASTRONOMY, AND ASTROPHYSICS > 97 Stars
Depositing User:	Dr David Moss
Date Deposited:	26 Sep 2006
Last Modified:	20 Oct 2017 14:12
URI:	https://eprints.maths.manchester.ac.uk/id/eprint/615

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