City Research Online

Double-diffusive instabilities of a shear-generated magnetic layer

Silvers, L. J., Vasil, G. M., Brummell, N. H. & Proctor, M. R. E. (2009). Double-diffusive instabilities of a shear-generated magnetic layer. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 702(1), L14-L18. doi: 10.1088/0004-637x/702/1/l14

Abstract

Previous theoretical work has speculated about the existence of double-diffusive magnetic buoyancy instabilities of a dynamically evolving horizontal magnetic layer generated by the interaction of forced vertically sheared velocity and a background vertical magnetic field. Here we confirm numerically that if the ratio of the magnetic to thermal diffusivities is sufficiently low then such instabilities can indeed exist, even for high Richardson number shear flows. Magnetic buoyancy may therefore occur via this mechanism for parameters that are likely to be relevant to the solar tachocline, where regular magnetic buoyancy instabilities are unlikely.

Publication Type: Article
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Departments: School of Science & Technology > Mathematics
SWORD Depositor:
[thumbnail of 0901.2388v2.pdf]
Preview
PDF
Download (1MB) | Preview

Export

Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

Actions (login required)

Admin Login Admin Login