Where does the solar dynamo operate?
Abstract
The Sun's large-scale magnetic field shows a cyclic behaviour with a period of about 22 years, but the exact origin of this cycle is not well understood yet. The observed properties of the magnetic field in the solar photosphere along with theoretical studies of magneto-convection in electrically well-conducting fluids suggest that the magnetic field in stellar convection zones is quite inhomogeneous: magnetic flux is concentrated into flux tubes embedded in a significantly less magnetized plasma. This concentration of magnetic flux has important consequences for magnetic flux storage and for modeling the solar dynamo, since dynamical aspects such as buoyancy and drag force must be taken into account.
- Publication:
-
Solar Variability as an Input to the Earth's Environment
- Pub Date:
- September 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003ESASP.535...99F
- Keywords:
-
- Solar Magnetic Fields;
- Solar Dynamo;
- Magnetic Flux Tubes;
- Sunspots