Three-Layer Magnetoconvection

TL;DR

This paper investigates the impact of an imposed magnetic field on a three-layer convective system, revealing new phenomena due to the interaction of magnetic fields with multiple closely spaced convection zones.

Contribution

It introduces the first mathematical model studying magnetic field effects in a three-layer magnetoconvection system with narrow stable regions.

Findings

Magnetic field influences flow dynamics differently than in single-layer systems.

New phenomena emerge due to the interaction of multiple convection zones.

Field strength significantly alters transport and mixing processes.

Abstract

It is believed that some stars have two or more convection zones in close proximity near to the stellar photosphere. These zones are separated by convectively stable regions that are relatively narrow. Due to the close proximity of these regions it is important to construct mathematical models to understand the transport and mixing of passive and dynamic quantities. One key quantity of interest is a magnetic field, a dynamic vector quantity, that can drastically alter the convectively driven flows, and have an important role in coupling the different layers. In this paper we present the first investigation into the effect of an imposed magnetic field in such a geometry. We focus our attention on the effect of field strength and show that, while there are some similarities with results for magnetic field evolution in a single layer, new and interesting phenomena are also present in a three layer system.