Grand minima and equatorward propagation in a cycling stellar convective dynamo

The 3D MHD Anelastic Spherical Harmonic code, using slope-limited diffusion, is employed to capture convective and dynamo processes achieved in a global-scale stellar convection simulation for a model solar-mass star rotating at three times the solar rate. The dynamo-generated magnetic fields possesses many timescales, with a prominent polarity cycle occurring roughly every 6.2 years. The magnetic field forms large-scale toroidal wreaths, whose formation is tied to the low Rossby number of the convection in this simulation. The polarity reversals are linked to the weakened differential rotation and a resistive collapse of the large-scale magnetic field. An equatorial migration of the magnetic field is seen, which is due to the strong modulation of the differential rotation rather than a dynamo wave. A poleward migration of magnetic flux from the equator eventually leads to the reversal of the polarity of the high-latitude magnetic field. This simulation also enters an interval with reduced magnetic energy at low latitudes lasting roughly 16 years (about 2.5 polarity cycles), during which the polarity cycles are disrupted and after which the dynamo recovers its regular polarity cycles. An analysis of this grand minimum reveals that it likely arises through the interplay of symmetric and antisymmetric dynamo families. This intermittent dynamo state potentially results from the simulation's relatively low magnetic Prandtl number. A mean-field-based analysis of this dynamo simulation demonstrates that it is of the α-Ω type. The timescales that appear to be relevant to the magnetic polarity reversal are also identified.

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An edited version of this article was published by the Institute of Physics on behalf of the American Astronomical Society. Copyright 2015 the American Astronomical Society.


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Author Augustson, Kyle
Sacha Brun, A.
Miesch, Mark
Toomre, J.
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2015-08-20T00:00:00
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2025-07-11T20:55:15.010678
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:16933
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Augustson, Kyle, Sacha Brun, A., Miesch, Mark, Toomre, J.. (2015). Grand minima and equatorward propagation in a cycling stellar convective dynamo. UCAR/NCAR - Library. https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7h1337n. Accessed 06 August 2025.

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