The irregularities of the sunspot cycle and their theoretical modelling

Choudhuri, AR and Choudhuri, AR (2014) The irregularities of the sunspot cycle and their theoretical modelling. In: INDIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, 88 (9, SI). pp. 877-884.

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Abstract

The 11-year sunspot cycle has many irregularities, the most prominent amongst them being the grand minima when sunspots may not be seen for several cycles. After summarizing the relevant observational data about the irregularities, we introduce the flux transport dynamo model, the currently most successful theoretical model for explaining the 11-year sunspot cycle. Then we analyze the respective roles of nonlinearities and random fluctuations in creating the irregularities. We also discuss how it has recently been realized that the fluctuations in meridional circulation also can be a source of irregularities. We end by pointing out that fluctuations in the poloidal field generation and fluctuations in meridional circulation together can explain the occurrences of grand minima.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	INDIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
Publisher:	INDIAN ASSOC CULTIVATION SCIENCE
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to the INDIAN ASSOC CULTIVATION SCIENCE, INDIAN J PHYSICS, JADAVPUR, KOLKATA 700 032, INDIA
Keywords:	Solar activity; Sunspots; Dynamo theory
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	20 Dec 2014 05:53
Last Modified:	20 Dec 2014 05:53
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/50490

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