Three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations of M-dwarf chromospheres

TL;DR

This paper presents pioneering 3D radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations of M-dwarf star atmospheres, revealing their complex, dynamic structures and magnetic phenomena like tornadoes, which challenge traditional 1D models and aid observational interpretation.

Contribution

First 3D MHD simulations of M-dwarf chromospheres including magnetic fields and shock dynamics, highlighting their complexity and the presence of magnetic tornadoes.

Findings

M-dwarf atmospheres are highly dynamic and structured.

Magnetic fields and shock waves create complex fine-structures.

Magnetic tornadoes are observed in M-dwarf models for the first time.

Abstract

We present first results from three-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations of M-type dwarf stars with CO5BOLD. The local models include the top of the convection zone, the photosphere, and the chromosphere. The results are illustrated for models with an effective temperature of 3240 K and a gravitational acceleration of log g = 4.5, which represent analogues of AD Leo. The models have different initial magnetic field strengths and field topologies. This first generation of models demonstrates that the atmospheres of M-dwarfs are highly dynamic and intermittent. Magnetic fields and propagating shock waves produce a complicated fine-structure, which is clearly visible in synthetic intensity maps in the core of the Ca II K spectral line and also at millimeter wavelengths. The dynamic small-scale pattern cannot be described by means of one-dimensional models, which has important implications for the construction of semi-empirical model atmospheres and thus for the interpretation of observations in general. Detailed three-dimensional numerical simulations are valuable in this respect. Furthermore, such models facilitate the analysis of small-scale processes, which cannot be observed on stars but nevertheless might be essential for understanding M-dwarf atmospheres and their activity. An example are so-called "magnetic tornadoes", which have recently been found on the Sun and are presented here in M-dwarf models for the first time.