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We report results of three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of global accretion disks threaded with weak vertical magnetic fields. We perform the simulations in the spherical coordinates with different temperature profiles and accordingly different rotation profiles. In the cases with a spatially constant temperature, because the rotation frequency is vertically constant in the equilibrium condition, general properties of the turbulence excited by magnetorotational instability are quantitatively similar to those obtained in local shearing box simulations. On the other hand, in the cases with a radially variable temperature profile, the vertical differential rotation, which is inevitable in the equilibrium condition, winds up the magnetic field lines in addition to the usual radial differential rotation. As a result, the coherent wound magnetic fields contribute to the Maxwell stress in the surface regions. We obtain nondimensional density and velocity fluctuations ∼0.1-0.2 at the midplane. The azimuthal power spectra of the magnetic fields show shallower slopes, ∼m0 – m–1, than those of velocity and density. The Poynting flux associated with the MHD turbulence drives intermittent and structured disk winds as well as sound-like waves toward the midplane. The mass accretion mainly occurs near the surfaces, and the gas near the midplane slowly moves outward in the time domain of the present simulations. The vertical magnetic fields are also dragged inward in the surface regions, while they stochastically move outward and inward around the midplane. We also discuss an observational implication of induced spiral structure in the simulated turbulent disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relativistic, magnetized jets are observed to propagate to very large distances in many active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We use three-dimensional relativistic MHD simulations to study the propagation of Poynting flux-driven jets in AGNs. These jets are already assumed to be being launched from the vicinity (∼103 gravitational radii) of supermassive black holes. Jet injections are characterized by a model described in Li et al., and we follow the propagation of these jets to ∼parsec scales. We find that these current-carrying jets are always collimated and mildly relativistic. When α, the ratio of toroidal-to-poloidal magnetic flux injection, is large the jet is subject to nonaxisymmetric current-driven instabilities (CDI) which lead to substantial dissipation and reduced jet speed. However, even with the presence of instabilities, the jet is not disrupted and will continue to propagate to large distances. We suggest that the relatively weak impact by the instability is due to the nature of the instability being convective and the fact that the jet magnetic fields are rapidly evolving on Alfvénic time scales. We present the detailed jet properties and show that far from the jet launching region, a substantial amount of magnetic energy has been transformed into kinetic energy and thermal energy, producing a jet magnetization number σ < 1. In addition, we have also studied the effects of a gas pressure supported “disk” surrounding the injection region, and qualitatively similar global jet behaviors were observed. We stress that jet collimation, CDIs, and the subsequent energy transitions are intrinsic features of current-carrying jets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of a standing shock front in a Poynting-flux-dominated relativistic flow is investigated by using a one-dimensional, relativistic, two-fluid simulation. An upstream flow containing a circularly polarized, sinusoidal magnetic shear wave is considered, mimicking a wave driven by an obliquely rotating pulsar. It is demonstrated that this wave is converted into large-amplitude electromagnetic waves with superluminal phase speeds by interacting with the shock when the shock-frame frequency of the wave exceeds the proper plasma frequency. The superluminal waves propagate in the upstream, modify the shock structure substantially, and form a well-developed precursor region ahead of a subshock. Dissipation of Poynting flux occurs in the precursor as well as in the downstream region through a parametric instability driven by the superluminal waves. The Poynting flux remaining in the downstream region is carried entirely by the superluminal waves. The downstream plasma is therefore an essentially unmagnetized, relativistically hot plasma with a non-relativistic flow speed, as suggested by observations of pulsar wind nebulae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zero point of measured photospheric Doppler shifts is uncertain for at least two reasons: instrumental variations (from, e.g., thermal drifts); and the convective blueshift, a known correlation between intensity and upflows. Accurate knowledge of the zero point is, however, useful for (1) improving estimates of the Poynting flux of magnetic energy across the photosphere, and (2) constraining processes underlying flux cancellation, the mutual apparent loss of magnetic flux in closely spaced, opposite-polarity magnetogram features. We present a method to absolutely calibrate line-of-sight (LOS) velocities in solar active regions (ARs) near disk center using three successive vector magnetograms and one Dopplergram coincident with the central magnetogram. It exploits the fact that Doppler shifts measured along polarity inversion lines (PILs) of the LOS magnetic field determine one component of the velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field, and optimizes consistency between changes in LOS flux near PILs and the transport of transverse magnetic flux by LOS velocities, assuming that ideal electric fields govern the magnetic evolution. Previous calibrations fitted the center-to-limb variation of Doppler velocities, but this approach cannot, by itself, account for residual convective shifts at the limb. We apply our method to vector magnetograms of AR 11158, observed by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and find clear evidence of offsets in the Doppler zero point in the range of 50-550 m s-1. In addition, we note that a simpler calibration can be determined from an LOS magnetogram and Dopplergram pair from the median Doppler velocity among all near-disk-center PIL pixels. We briefly discuss shortcomings in our initial implementation, and suggest ways to address these. In addition, as a step in our data reduction, we discuss the use of temporal continuity in the transverse magnetic field direction to correct apparently spurious fluctuations in resolution of the 180° ambiguity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years before merger, supermassive black hole (SMBH) binaries will rapidly inspiral and precess in a magnetic field imposed by a surrounding circumbinary disk. Multiple simulations suggest that this relative motion will convert some of the local energy to a Poynting-dominated outflow, with a luminosity ~1043 erg s-1 (B/104G)²(M/108M⊙)²(v/0.4c)², some of which may emerge as synchrotron emission at frequencies near 1 GHz where current and planned wide-field radio surveys will operate. On top of a secular increase in power (and v) on the gravitational wave inspiral timescale, orbital motion will produce significant, detectable modulations, both on orbital periods and (if black hole spins are not aligned with the binary's total angular momenta) spin-orbit precession timescales. Because the gravitational wave merger time increases rapidly with separation, we find that vast numbers of these transients are ubiquitously predicted, unless explicitly ruled out (by low efficiency ∈) or obscured (by accretion geometry fgeo)- If the fraction of Poynting flux converted to radio emission times the traction of lines of sight accessible fgeo is sufficiently large fgeo∈ > 2 x 10-4 for a 1 year orbital period), at least one event is accessible to future blind surveys at a nominal 104 deg² with 0.5 mJy sensitivity. Our procedure generalizes to other flux-limited surveys designed to investigate electromagnetic (EM) signatures associated with many modulations produced by merging SMBH binaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetohydrodynamic model that includes a complete electrical conductivity tensor is used to estimate conditions for photospherically driven, linear, non-plane Alfvénic oscillations extending from the photosphere to the lower corona to drive a chromospheric heating rate due to Pedersen current dissipation that is comparable to the observed net chromospheric radiative loss of ~107 erg cm-2 s-1. The heating rates due to electron current dissipation in the photosphere and corona are also computed. The wave amplitudes are computed self-consistently as functions of an inhomogeneous background (BG) atmosphere. The effects of the conductivity tensor are resolved numerically using a resolution of 3.33 m. The oscillations drive a chromospheric heating flux FCh ~ 107-108 erg cm-2 s-1 at frequencies v 10²-10³ mHz for BG magnetic field strengths B ≳ 700 G and magnetic field perturbation amplitudes ~0.01-0.1 B. The total resistive heating flux increases with v. Most heating occurs in the photosphere. Thermalization of Poynting flux in the photosphere due to electron current dissipation regulates the Poynting flux into the chromosphere, limiting FCh. FCh initially increases with v, reaches a maximum, and then decreases with increasing v due to increasing electron current dissipation in the photosphere. The resolution needed to resolve the oscillations increases from ~10 m in the photosphere to ~10 km in the upper chromosphere and is ∝ v-1/2. Estimates suggest that these oscillations are normal modes of photospheric flux tubes with diameters ~10-20 km, excited by magnetic reconnection in current sheets with thicknesses ~0.1 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a new method to measure the 3D kinematics of the subphotospheric motion of magnetic elements, which is used to study the coupling between the convection-driven vortex motion and the generation of ubiquitous coronal waves. We use the method of decomposing a line-of-sight magnetogram from MDI/SDO into unipolar magnetic charges, which yields the (projected) 2D motion [x(t), y(t)] and the (half) width evolution w(t) of an emerging magnetic element from an initial depth of d ≲ 1500 km below the photosphere. A simple model of rotational vortex motion with magnetic flux conservation during the emergence process of a magnetic element predicts the width evolution, i.e., w(t)/w0 = [B(t)/B0]−1/2, and an upper limit of the depth variation d(t) ≤ 1.3 w(t). While previous 2D tracing of magnetic elements provided information on advection and superdiffusion, our 3D tracing during the emergence process of a magnetic element is consistent with a ballistic trajectory in the upward direction. From the estimated Poynting flux and lifetimes of convective cells, we conclude that the Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter–detected low-amplitude transverse magnetohydrodynamic waves are generated by the convection-driven vortex motion. Our observational measurements of magnetic elements appear to contradict the theoretical random-walk braiding scenario of Parker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the magnetic interaction of exoplanets orbiting M dwarfs, calculating the expected Poynting flux carried upstream along Alfvén wings to the central star. A region of emission analogous to the Io footprint observed in Jupiter’s aurora is produced, and we calculate the radio flux density generated near the surface of the star via the electron-cyclotron maser instability. We apply the model to produce individual case studies for the TRAPPIST-1, Proxima Centauri, and dwarf NGTS-1 systems. We predict steady-state flux densities of up to ∼10 μJy and sporadic bursts of emission of up to ∼1 mJy from each case study, suggesting these systems may be detectable with the Very Large Array and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, and perhaps the Square Kilometre Array in the future. Finally, we present a survey of 85 exoplanets orbiting M dwarfs, identifying 11 such objects capable of generating radio emission above 10 μJy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimates of the horizontal electric field on the Sun’s visible surface are important not only for estimating the Poynting flux of magnetic energy into the corona but also for driving time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic models of the corona. In this paper, a method is developed for estimating the horizontal electric field from a sequence of radial-component magnetic field maps. This problem of inverting Faraday’s law has no unique solution. Unfortunately, the simplest solution (a divergence-free electric field) is not realistically localized in regions of nonzero magnetic field, as would be expected from Ohm’s law. Our new method generates instead a localized solution, using a basis pursuit algorithm to find a sparse solution for the electric field. The method is shown to perform well on test cases where the input magnetic maps are flux balanced in both Cartesian and spherical geometries. However, we show that if the input maps have a significant imbalance of flux—usually arising from data assimilation—then it is not possible to find a localized, realistic, electric field solution. This is the main obstacle to driving coronal models from time sequences of solar surface magnetic maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report on turbulent acceleration of the dissipation of the magnetic field in the post-shock region of a Poynting flux-dominated flow, such as the Crab pulsar wind nebula. We have performed two-dimensional resistive relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulations of subsonic turbulence driven by the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability at the shock fronts of the Poynting flux-dominated flows in pulsar winds. We find that turbulence stretches current sheets which substantially enhances the dissipation of the magnetic field, and that most of the initial magnetic field energy is dissipated within a few eddy-turnover times. We also develop a simple analytical model for turbulent dissipation of the magnetic field that agrees well with our simulations. The analytical model indicates that the dissipation rate does not depend on resistivity even in the small resistivity limit. Our findings can possibly alleviate the σ-problem in the Crab pulsar wind nebulae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]