Bibcode
Cally, P. S.; Khomenko, E.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 814, Issue 2, article id. 106, 11 pp. (2015).
Advertised on:
12
2015
Journal
Citations
29
Refereed citations
28
Description
The photospheric temperature minimum in the Sun and solar-like stars is
very weakly ionized, with an ionization fraction f as low as
10‑4. In galactic star-forming regions, f can be
10‑10 or lower. Under these circumstances, the Hall
current can couple low-frequency Alfvén and magnetoacoustic waves
via the dimensionless Hall parameter ε =ω /{{{Ω
}}}{{i}}f, where ω is the wave frequency and {{{Ω
}}}{{i}} is the mean ion gyrofrequency. This is analyzed in
the context of a cold (zero-β) plasma and in less detail for a warm
plasma. It is found that Hall coupling preferentially occurs where the
wavevector is nearly field-aligned. In these circumstances, Hall
coupling in theory produces a continual oscillation between fast and
Alfvén modes as the wave passes through the weakly ionized
region. At low frequencies (mHz), characteristic of solar and stellar
normal modes, ɛ is probably too small for more than a fraction
of one oscillation to occur. On the other hand, the effect may be
significant at the far higher frequencies (Hz) associated with magnetic
reconnection events. In another context, characteristic parameters for
star-forming gas clouds suggest that {O}(1) or more full oscillations
may occur in one cloud crossing. This mechanism is not expected to be
effective in sunspots, due to their high ion gyrofrequencies and
Alfvén speeds, since the net effect depends inversely on both and
therefore inverse quadratically on field strength.
Related projects
Solar and Stellar Magnetism
Magnetic fields are at the base of star formation and stellar structure and evolution. When stars are born, magnetic fields brake the rotation during the collapse of the mollecular cloud. In the end of the life of a star, magnetic fields can play a key role in the form of the strong winds that lead to the last stages of stellar evolution. During
Tobías
Felipe García