A Babcock-Leighton dynamo model of the Sun incorporating toroidal flux loss and the helioseismically-inferred meridional flow

Abstract

We investigate whether the Babcock-Leighton flux-transport dynamo model remains in agreement with observations if the meridional flow profile is taken from helioseismic inversions. Additionally, we investigate the effect of the loss of toroidal flux through the solar surface. We employ the 2D flux-transport BL dynamo framework. We use the helioseismically-inferred meridional flow profile, and include toroidal flux loss in a way that is consistent with the amount of poloidal flux generated by Joy's law. Our model does not impose a preference for emergences at low latitudes, but we do require that the model produces such a preference. We can find solutions in general agreement with observations, including the equatorward drift of the butterfly wings and the cycle's 11 year period. The most important free parameters in the model are the depth to which the radial turbulent pumping extends and the turbulent diffusivity in the lower half of the convection zone. We find that the pumping needs to extend to depths of about $0.80R_{\odot }$ and the bulk turbulent diffusivity needs to be around 10 km${}^2$/s or less. We find that the emergences are restricted to low latitudes without the need to impose such a preference. The flux-transport BL model, incorporating the helioseismically inferred meridional flow and toroidal field loss term, is compatible with the properties of the observed butterfly diagram and with the observed toroidal loss rate. Reasonably tight constraints are placed on the remaining free parameters. The pumping needs to be to just below the depth corresponding to the location where the meridional flow changes direction. Our linear model does not however reproduce the observed "rush to the poles" of the diffuse surface radial field resulting from the decay of sunspots -- reproducing this might require the imposition of a preference for flux to emerge near the equator.

arXiv comment10 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A&A

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• Minimal Roles of Solar Subsurface Meridional Flow in the distributed-shear Babcock-Leighton Dynamo
• The rush to the poles and the role of magnetic buoyancy in the solar dynamo