Synchronized helicity oscillations: a link between planetary tides and the solar cycle?

TL;DR

This paper explores a potential physical mechanism linking planetary tidal forces to the solar cycle through resonant excitation of helicity oscillations in the solar dynamo, suggesting a possible connection between planetary tides and solar magnetic activity.

Contribution

It proposes a novel physical mechanism involving helicity oscillations excited by planetary tides that could influence the solar dynamo cycle.

Findings

Helicity oscillations can be resonantly excited by tidal perturbations.

A 22-year solar cycle can emerge from this mechanism in a simplified dynamo model.

The 11.07-year tidal oscillation may influence the alpha-effect in the solar dynamo.

Abstract

Recent years have seen an increased interest in the question of whether the gravitational action of planets could have an influence on the solar dynamo. Without discussing the observational validity of the claimed correlations, we ask for a possible physical mechanism that might link the weak planetary forces with solar dynamo action. We focus on the helicity oscillations that were recently found in simulations of the current-driven, kink-type Tayler instability, which is characterized by an m=1 azimuthal dependence. We show how these helicity oscillations can be resonantly excited by some m=2 perturbation that reflects a tidal oscillation. Specifically, we speculate that the 11.07 years tidal oscillation induced by the Venus--Earth--Jupiter system may lead to a 1:1 resonant excitation of the oscillation of the alpha-effect. Finally, in the framework of a reduced, zero-dimensional alpha--Omega dynamo model we recover a 22.14-year cycle of the solar dynamo.