Chaotic dynamics of the solar cycle
Abstract
A dynamical model of the solar activity cycle has been developed that incorporates the key chaotic mechanism of on/off intermittence. It has been proposed that the solar butterfly diagram represents the motion of activity waves which are very stable nonlinear solitary waves. The waves are driven by an instability under the convection zone in a layer called the tachocline. The result are for one wave in one solar hemisphere but show the correct spatio-temporal dynamics. A new approach to dynamo theory is being developed based on theoretical techniques developed in chaos theory called the thermodynamic formalism. Possible sources of activity in other turbulent, rotating stars has been studied.
- Publication:
-
Columbia Univ. Annual Report
- Pub Date:
- October 1993
- Bibcode:
- 1993cuny.reptR....S
- Keywords:
-
- Activity Cycles (Biology);
- Chaos;
- Dynamic Models;
- Dynamo Theory;
- Solar Activity;
- Solar Cycles;
- Solitary Waves;
- Stellar Models;
- Stellar Rotation;
- Convection;
- Nonlinear Systems;
- Thermodynamics;
- Turbulence;
- Solar Physics