Diverging and Converging Flows around Sunspot Structures in Rotating and Non-Rotating Axisymmetric MHD Simulations

TL;DR

This paper uses 2D axisymmetric MHD simulations to study the flow patterns around sunspots and pores, revealing conditions under which flows converge or diverge near the solar surface.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation-based analysis of magnetic field concentration and flow patterns in sunspots, highlighting the conditions for converging and diverging flows.

Findings

Stable magnetic concentrations are associated with converging flows.

Flow patterns depend on the stability of magnetic field concentrations.

Simulations provide insights into magnetic and flow dynamics near sunspots.

Abstract

We present results on modeling solar pores and sunspots using 2D axisymmetric magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. These models are helpful for understanding the mechanisms of magnetic field concentration in sunspots, and the large-scale flow patterns associated with them. The simulations provide consistent, self-maintained, although not fully realistic, models of concentrated magnetic field near the solar surface. In this paper, we explore under which conditions the associated flows are converging or diverging near the surface. We find that in most cases in which a stable, pore-like concentration of magnetic field forms, a configuration with converging over diverging flow is established.