Solar-like Dynamos and Rotational Scaling of Cycles from Star-in-a-box Simulations

• Published in: Astrophysical journal. Letters Vol. 931; no. 2; p. L17
• Main Author: Käpylä, Petri J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austin The American Astronomical Society 01.06.2022; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Astrophysical fluid dynamics; Cycle ratio; Differential rotation; Equator; Fluid flow; Magnetic fields; Magnetohydrodynamical simulations; Magnetohydrodynamics; Rotating generators; Simulation; Spherical shells; Stellar magnetic fields; Stellar rotation
• ISSN: 2041-8205; 2041-8213
• DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ac6e6b

Abstract Magnetohydrodynamic star-in-a-box simulations of convection and dynamos in a solar-like star with different rotation rates are presented. These simulations produce solar-like differential rotation with a fast equator and slow poles and magnetic activity that resembles that of the Sun with equatorward migrating activity at the surface. Furthermore, the ratio of rotation to cycle period is almost constant, as the rotation period decreases in the limited sample considered here. This is reminiscent of the suggested inactive branch of stars from observations and differs from most earlier simulation results from spherical shell models. While the exact excitation mechanism of the dynamos in the current simulations is not yet clear, it is shown that it is plausible that the greater freedom that the magnetic field has due to the inclusion of the radiative core and regions exterior to the star are important in shaping the dynamo.