The orientational relaxation of bipolar active regions

Longcope, Dana and Choudhuri, Arnab Rai (2002) The orientational relaxation of bipolar active regions. In: Solar Physics, 205 (1). pp. 63-92.

PDF THE_ORIENTATIONAL.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (251kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

In the mean, bipolar active regions are oriented nearly toroidally, according to Hale's polarity law, with a latitude-dependent tilt known as Joy's Law. The tilt angles of individual active regions deviate from this mean behavior and change over time. It has been found that on average the change is toward the mean angle at a rate characteristic of 4.37 days (Howard, 1996). We show that this orientational relaxation is consistent with the standard model of flux tube emergence from a deep dynamo layer. Under this scenario Joy's law results from the Coriolis effect on the rising flux tube (D'Silva and Choudhuri, 1993), and departures from it result from turbulent buffeting of the tubes (Longcope and Fisher, 1996). We show that relaxation toward Joy's angle occurs because the turbulent perturbations relax on shorter time scales than the perturbations from the Coriolis force. The turbulent perturbations relax more rapidly because they are localized to the topmost portion of the convection zone while the Coriolis perturbations are more widely distributed. If a fully-developed active region remains connected to the strong toroidal magnetic field at the base of the convection zone, its tilt will eventually disappear, leaving it aligned perfectly toroidally. On the other hand, if the flux becomes disconnected from the toroidal field the bipole will assume a tilt indicative of the location of disconnection. We compare models which are connected and disconnected from the toroidal field. Only those disconnected at points very deep in the convection zone a-re consistent with observed time scale of orientational relaxation.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Solar Physics
Publisher:	Springer
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Springer.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	27 Jul 2011 06:26
Last Modified:	27 Jul 2011 06:26
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/39476

Actions (login required)

View Item