Nonlinear Dynamics of Alfven-Vortex Current Loops

ORAL

Abstract

Solar corona-photosphere and magnetosphere-ionosphere observations (HINODE and CLUSTER) show well-defined dynamics $({\bf v}={\bf \hat z} \times \nabla \phi)$ of current-carrying Alfven-vortex flux tubes $d {\bf \psi}$. Using theory and simulations we investigate the nonlinear dynamics and heating rates that may be expected from electron Landau damping of kinetic Alfven waves launched by oscillating photospheric current loops and convective instabilities from inverted electron density-temperature gradients. Computer experiments on vortex dynamical alignment and the generation of zonal flows and zonal magnetic fields are carried out. Theoretical generalizations of the Rossby wave-drift wave vortex solutions are given and explored numerically.

*Work partially supported by the DoE and the NSF ATM grant ATM-0638480.

Authors

  • Cynthia Correa

    • Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin
    • Insitute of Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin

  • Wendell Horton

    • Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin
    • Insitute of Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin

  • Xiangrong Fu

    • Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin

  • S.M. Mahajan

    • Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin
    • Institute for Fusion Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
    • University of Texas
    • Institute for Fusion Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712

  • Hideaki Miura

    • Department of Simulation Science, National Institute of Fusion Science, Japan