Magnetic field morphologies in convective zones influenced by a turbulent surface layer

TL;DR

This study uses advanced numerical simulations to explore how turbulent surface layers influence magnetic field generation and behavior in low-mass stars, revealing mechanisms that could explain observed magnetic phenomena.

Contribution

It demonstrates that turbulent surface layers induce magnetic pumping and complex magnetic field variations, advancing understanding of stellar magnetic field dynamics in realistic stratified conditions.

Findings

Magnetic pumping transports energy into stellar interiors.

Dipolar magnetic fields are linked to differential rotation regimes.

Surface turbulence influences magnetic field time variability.

Abstract

Spectropolarimetric observations show that many low-mass stars possess large-scale poloidal magnetic fields with considerable dipole component, which in some cases exhibit temporal dynamics - cycles or reversals. Although it is widely accepted that their magnetic fields are generated by the dynamo process, it is hard to reproduce coherent oscillations of large-scale magnetic fields with a dipolar symmetry as observed for the Sun when turbulent and compressible regimes are explored. Most previous 3D numerical studies partially avoided this problem by considering a numerical domain with low density stratification, which may correspond to neglecting surface effects where density drops considerably. To address this question, we perform direct numerical simulations of convective dynamos in extreme parameter regimes of both strong turbulence and strong density stratification, using software MagIC. Our simulations exhibit rotationally-influenced large-scale convective motions surrounded by a turbulent compressible surface layer. We find complex time variations of the magnetic field in flow regimes of predominantly dipolar configuration with respect to the few large-scale harmonics. In such regimes, turbulent surface layer induces global magnetic pumping mechanism, transporting magnetic energy into the deep interiors of our dynamo model. Dipole magnetic fields are found in regimes of transition between solar- and anti-solar differential rotation, and interact dynamically with it. The spatial distribution and temporal behavior of the large-scale fields is consistent with observations of low-mass stars, which suggest magnetic pumping could promote time-dependent magnetic fields with a dipolar symmetry as observed for the Sun and other solar-like stars. Our results suggest a parameter path in which dynamo models with a complex multiscale dynamics should be explored.