Numerical Simulations of Magnetized Winds of Solar-Like Stars

Abstract

We investigate magnetized solar-like stellar winds by means of self-consistent three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) numerical simulations. We analyze winds with different magnetic field intensities and densities as to explore the dependence on the plasma-beta parameter. By solving the fully ideal 3D MHD equations, we show that the plasma-beta parameter is the crucial parameter in the configuration of the steady-state wind. Therefore, there is a group of magnetized flows that would present the same terminal velocity despite of its thermal and magnetic energy densities, as long as the plasma-beta parameter is the same.

2 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of the IAU Symposium 259, "Cosmic Magnetic Fields: From Planets, to Stars and Galaxies", November 2008