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DOE OSTI · 2997491

Zonal Flow and Self-regulating Mechanism in a Hydrodynamic Disk

Chen, Chang-Chun [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000336536918)·Li, Hui [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000335566568)·Diamond, P. H. [Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000332732604)·Li, Shengtai [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000241423080)
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Abstract

This study addresses key aspects of momentum transport in hydrodynamic disks, which is critical for understanding zonal flow generation and turbulence in compressible hydrodynamic disks. We find that nonlinear momentum/density transport leads to the formation of zonal flows from the Rossby wave instability in disks. We analytically derive the generation and location of zonal flows and describe a modified Taylor identity applicable to compressible disk flows. We further present a self-regulation model, revealing a dynamic interplay between zonal flow and fluctuations driven by Rossby wave instability that regulates the nonlinear saturation state. This theoretical framework contributes insights into the dynamics of disks such as protoplanetary disks, shedding light on the intricate processes governing momentum/density transport and the emergence of zonal flows in the saturation of protoplanetary disks.

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Astrophysical fluid dynamicsHydrodynamical simulationsHydrodynamicsProtoplanetary disksastrophysical fluid dynamicshydrodynamical simulationshydrodynamicsprotoplanetary disks

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Chen, Chang-Chun [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000336536918), Li, Hui [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000335566568), Diamond, P. H. [Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000332732604), Li, Shengtai [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000241423080). 2025-03-24. Zonal Flow and Self-regulating Mechanism in a Hydrodynamic Disk. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357%2Fad9a68

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