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Results for “Radiation Hydrodynamics Modeling”

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At least 19 records

3D Radiative Hydrodynamics Modeling of Convection of Stars to Probe Their Interiors and Photospheric Properties

The dramatic flow of data from the Kepler and K2 missions opens the opportunity to significantly improve our knowledge of stellar interiors, surface dynamics, and structure. However, interpretation of these observations is a challenging task because it depends on tiny effects that can be studied only with advanced first-principles modeling. We present results of 3D time-dependent radiative hydrodynamic simulations of stellar outer convection zones and atmospheres taking into account chemical composition, radiative transfer, turbulence effects, and a realistic equation of state for main sequence stars. We will discuss properties of convective structure and dynamics, convective overshoot, effects of magnetic fields and rotation, as well as the potential influence of turbulent surface dynamics on high-precision RV measurements.

Photospheric↗

AGN Obscuration Through Dusty Infrared Dominated Flows. II. Multidimensional, Radiation-Hydrodynamics Modeling

We explore a detailed model in which the active galactic nucleus (AGN) obscuration results from the extinction of AGN radiation in a global ow driven by the pressure of infrared radiation on dust grains. We assume that external illumination by UV and soft X-rays of the dusty gas located at approximately 1pc away from the supermassive black hole is followed by a conversion of such radiation into IR. Using 2.5D, time-dependent radiation hydrodynamics simulations in a ux-limited di usion approximation we nd that the external illumination can support a geometrically thick obscuration via out ows driven by infrared radiation pressure in AGN with luminosities greater than 0:05 L(sub edd) and Compton optical depth, Tau(sub T) approx > & 1.

Dorodnitsyn, Anton↗

Data-Driven Radiative Hydrodynamic Modeling of the 2014 March 29 X1.0 Solar Flare

Spectroscopic observations of solar flares provide critical diagnostics of the physical conditions in the flaring atmosphere. Some key features in observed spectra have not yet been accounted for in existing flare models. Here we report a data-driven simulation of the well-observed X1.0 flare on 2014 March 29 that can reconcile some well-known spectral discrepancies. We analyzed spectra of the flaring region from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) in Mg II hk, the Interferometric BIdimensional Spectropolarimeter at the Dunn Solar Telescope (DSTIBIS) in H(alpha) 6563A and Ca II 8542A, and the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscope Imager (RHESSI) in hard X-rays. We constructed a multithreaded flare loop model and used the electron flux inferred from RHESSI data as the input to the radiative hydrodynamic code RADYN to simulate the atmospheric response. We then synthesized various chromospheric emission lines and compared them with the IRIS and IBIS observations. In general, the synthetic intensities agree with the observed ones, especially near the northern footpoint of the flare. The simulated Mg II line profile has narrower wings than the observed one. This discrepancy can be reduced by using a higher microturbulent velocity (27 km/s) in a narrow chromospheric layer. In addition, we found that an increase of electron density in the upper chromosphere within a narrow height range of approx. 800 km below the transition region can turn the simulated Mg II line core into emission and thus reproduce the single peaked profile, which is a common feature in all IRIS flares.

Da Costa, Fatima Rubio↗

Spectral Evidence for Heating at Large Column Mass in Umbral Solar Flare Kernels. I. IRIS Near-UV Spectra of the X1 Solar Flare of 2014 October 25

The GOES X1 flare SOL2014-10-25T17:08:00 was a three-ribbon solar flare observed with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS)in the near-UV(NUV)and far-UV. One of the flare ribbons crossed a sunspot umbra, producing a dramatic, ∼1000% increase in the NUV continuum radiation. We comprehensively analyze the UV spectral data of the umbral flare brightenings, which provide new challenges for radiative−hydrodynamic modeling of the chromospheric velocity field and the white-light continuum radiation. The emission line profiles in the umbral flare brightenings exhibit redshifts and profile asymmetries, but these are significantly smaller than in another, well-studied X-class solar flare. We present a ratio of the NUV continuum intensity to the FeIIλ2814.45intensity. This continuum-to-line ratio is a new spectral diagnostic of significant heating at high column mass (log m/[gcm−2]>−2) during solar flares because the continuum and emission line radiation originate from relatively similar temperatures but moderately different optical depths. The full spectral readout of these IRIS data also allow for a comprehensive survey of the flaring NUV landscape: in addition to many lines of Fe II and Cr II, we identify a new solar flare emission line, HeIλ2829.91(as previously identified in laboratory and early-type stellar spectra). The Fermi/GBM hard X-ray data provide inputs to radiative−hydrodynamic models (which will be presented in Paper II) in order to better understand the large continuum-to-line ratios, the origin of the white-light continuum radiation, and the role of electron beam heating in the low atmosphere.

Adam F Kowalski↗

3D Modeling of Solar-Type Stars to Characterize Stellar Jitter

Detection of Earth-mass planets requires measurements of radial velocity with extreme precision. To capture the tiny disturbances caused by a planet's motion, it is necessary to understand and characterize the host star’s turbulent dynamics in order to apply proper filtering to the observational data. We take advantage of current computational and technological capabilities to develop 3D realistic models of the stellar subsurface convection and atmospheres and thereby estimate the photospheric jitter. We have identified an initial set of target stars, obtained initial conditions using the MESA code, and obtained initial 3D radiative models of the stellar surfaces and atmospheres with a spatial resolution of 50km. We present initial 3D radiative hydrodynamic model results of the planet-hosting star HD209458.

SMD↗

AGN Obscuration Through Dusty Infrared Dominated Flows: Radiation-Hydrodynamics Solution for the Wind - 1

We construct a radiation-hydrodynamics model for the obscuring toroidal structure in active galactic nuclei. In this model the obscuration is produced at parsec scale by a dense, dusty wind which is supported by infrared radiation pressure on dust grains. To find the distribution of radiation pressure, we numerically solve the 2D radiation transfer problem in a flux limited diffusion approximation. We iteratively couple the solution with calculations of stationary 1D models for the wind, and obtain the z-component of the velocity. Our results demonstrate that for AGN luminosities greater than 0.1 L(sub edd) external illumination can support a geometrically thick obscuration via outflows driven by infrared radiation pressure. The terminal velocity of marginally Compton-thin models (0.2 < tau(sub T) < 0.6), is comparable to or greater than the escape velocity. In Compton thick models the maximum value of the vertical component of the velocity is lower than the escape velocity, suggesting that a significant part of our torus is in the form of failed wind. The results demonstrate that obscuration via normal or failed infrared-driven winds is a viable option for the AGN torus problem and AGN unification models. Such winds can also provide an important channel for AGN feedback.

Dorodnitsyn, A.↗

Spectral Eclipse Timing

We utilize multi-dimensional simulations of varying equatorial jet strength to predict wavelength-dependent variations in the eclipse times of gas-giant planets. A displaced hot spot introduces an asymmetry in the secondary eclipse light curve that manifests itself as a measured offset in the timing of the center of eclipse. A multiwavelength observation of secondary eclipse, one probing the timing of barycentric eclipse at short wavelengths and another probing at longer wavelengths, will reveal the longitudinal displacement of the hot spot and break the degeneracy between this effect and that associated with the asymmetry due to an eccentric orbit. The effect of time offsets was first explored in the IRAC wavebands by Williams et al. Here we improve upon their methodology, extend to a broad range of wavelengths, and demonstrate our technique on a series of multi-dimensional radiative-hydrodynamical simulations of HD 209458b with varying equatorial jet strength and hot-spot displacement. Simulations with the largest hot-spot displacement result in timing offsets of up to 100 s in the infrared. Though we utilize a particular radiative hydrodynamical model to demonstrate this effect, the technique is model independent. This technique should allow a much larger survey of hot-spot displacements with the James Webb Space Telescope than currently accessible with time-intensive phase curves, hopefully shedding light on the physical mechanisms associated with thermal energy advection in irradiated gas giants.

Hydrodynamics↗

Formation of the Lyman Continuum during Solar Flares

The Lyman continuum (LyC; <911.12 Å) forms at the top of the chromosphere in the quiet Sun, making LyC a powerful tool for probing the chromospheric plasma during solar flares. To understand the effects of nonthermal energy deposition in the chromosphere during flares, we analyzed LyC profiles from a grid of field-aligned radiative-hydrodynamic models generated using the RADYN code as part of the F-CHROMA project. The spectral response of LyC, the temporal evolution of the departure coefficient of hydrogen, b 1 , and the color temperature, T c , in response to a range of nonthermal electron distribution functions, were investigated. The LyC intensity was seen to increase by 4–5.5 orders of magnitude during solar flares, responding most strongly to the nonthermal electron flux of the beam. Generally, b 1 decreased from 10 2 –10 3 to closer to unity during solar flares, indicating a stronger coupling to local conditions, while T c increased from 8–9 to 10–16 kK. T c was found to be approximately equal to the electron temperature of the plasma when b1 was at a minimum. Both optically thick and optically thin components of LyC were found to be in agreement with the interpretation of recent observations. The optically thick layer forms deeper in the chromosphere during a flare compared to quiescent periods, whereas the optically thin layers form at higher altitudes due to chromospheric evaporation, in low-temperature, high-density regions propagating upward. We put these results in the context of current and future missions.

Solar flares↗

Solar Flare Ribbon Fronts. I. Constraining Flare Energy Deposition with IRIS Spectroscopy

Spectral lines formed at lower atmospheric layers show peculiar profiles at the "leading edge" of ribbons during solar flares. In particular, increased absorption of the BBSO/GST He I λ10830 line, as well as broad and centrally reversed profiles in the spectra of the Mg II and C II lines observed by the IRIS satellite, has been reported. In this work, we aim to understand the physical origin of such peculiar IRIS profiles, which seem to be common of many, if not all, flares. To achieve this, we quantify the spectral properties of the IRIS Mg II profiles at the ribbon leading edge during four large flares and perform a detailed comparison with a grid of radiative hydrodynamic models using the RADYN+FP code. We also studied their transition region (TR) counterparts, finding that these ribbon front locations are regions where TR emission and chromospheric evaporation are considerably weaker compared to other parts of the ribbons. Based on our comparison between the IRIS observations and modeling, our interpretation is that there are different heating regimes at play in the leading edge and the main bright part of the ribbons. More specifically, we suggest that bombardment of the chromosphere by more gradual and modest nonthermal electron energy fluxes can qualitatively explain the IRIS observations at the ribbon leading front, while stronger and more impulsive energy fluxes are required to drive chromospheric evaporation and more intense TR emission in the bright ribbon. Our results provide a possible physical origin for the peculiar behavior of the IRIS chromospheric lines in the ribbon leading edge and new constraints for the flare models.

Solar flares↗

Impact Of Rotation on the Sun’s Subsurface Structure

It is well known that the dynamical evolution of subsurface flows of the Sun and magnetic fields is strongly linked to rotation. Observational investigation of sub surface structuring and dynamics can be performed only with relatively low resolution using helioseismic inversion techniques. To confidently model the coupling of turbulent convection, magnetic fields, and rotation in the solar interior, we perform advanced radiative hydrodynamic and MHD modeling of local scales. To explore the coupling effects in the upper layers of the convection zone, we present results of analysis from a series of hydrodynamic simulations performed for a 25-Mm-deep computational domain at different latitudes obtained for 1) the Carrington rotation rate at all latitudes and 2) the realistic rotation rate from the global helioseismic inversions during the solar minimum. Using additional 3D radiative hydrodynamic models, we reveal how physical properties of the solar convection are affected by rotation.

Heliophysics↗

VLTI-AMBER Velocity-Resolved Aperture-Synthesis Imaging of Eta Carinae with a Spectral Resolution of 12 000: Studies of the Primary Star Wind and Innermost Wind-Wind Collision Zone

The mass loss from massive stars is not understood well. Eta Carinae is a unique object for studying the massive stellar wind during the luminous blue variable phase. It is also an eccentric binary with a period of 5.54 yr. The nature of both stars is uncertain, although we know from X-ray studies that there is a wind-wind collision whose properties change with orbital phase. Aims. We want to investigate the structure and kinematics of Car's primary star wind and wind-wind collision zone with a high spatial resolution of approx.6 mas (approx.14 au) and high spectral resolution of R = 12 000. Methods. Observations of Car were carried out with the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) and the AMBER instrument between approximately five and seven months before the August 2014 periastron passage. Velocity-resolved aperture-synthesis images were reconstructed from the spectrally dispersed interferograms. Interferometric studies can provide information on the binary orbit, the primary wind, and the wind collision. Results. We present velocity-resolved aperture-synthesis images reconstructed in more than 100 di erent spectral channels distributed across the Br(gamma) 2.166 micron emission line. The intensity distribution of the images strongly depends on wavelength. At wavelengths corresponding to radial velocities of approximately -140 to -376 km/s measured relative to line center, the intensity distribution has a fan-shaped structure. At the velocity of -277 km/s, the position angle of the symmetry axis of the fan is 126. The fan-shaped structure extends approximately 8.0 mas (approx.18:8 au) to the southeast and 5.8 mas (approx.13:6 au) to the northwest, measured along the symmetry axis at the 16% intensity contour. The shape of the intensity distributions suggests that the obtained images are the first direct images of the innermost wind-wind collision zone. Therefore, the observations provide velocity-dependent image structures that can be used to test three-dimensional hydrodynamical, radiative transfer models of the massive interacting winds of Eta Car.

Velocity-resolved aperture-synthesis images↗

The Atmospheric Response to High Nonthermal Electron-beam Fluxes in Solar Flares. II. Hydrogen-broadening Predictions for Solar Flare Observations with the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope

Redshifted components of chromospheric emission lines in the hard X-ray impulsive phase of solar flares have recently been studied through their 30 s evolution with the high resolution of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. Radiative-hydrodynamic flare models show that these redshifts are generally reproduced by electron-beam-generated chromospheric condensations. The models produce large ambient electron densities, and the pressure broadening of the hydrogen Balmer series should be readily detected in observations. To accurately interpret the upcoming spectral data of flares with the DKIST, we incorporate nonideal, nonadiabatic line-broadening profiles of hydrogen into the RADYN code. These improvements allow time-dependent predictions for the extreme Balmer line wing enhancements in solar flares. We study two chromospheric condensation models, which cover a range of electron-beam fluxes (1 − 5 × 10^(11) erg s^(−1) cm^(−2)) and ambient electron densities (1 − 60 × 10^(13) cm^(−3)) in the flare chromosphere. Both models produce broadening and redshift variations within 10 s of the onset of beam heating. In the chromospheric condensations, there is enhanced spectral broadening due to large optical depths at Hα, Hβ, and Hγ, while the much lower optical depth of the Balmer series H12−H16 provides a translucent window into the smaller electron densities in the beam-heated layers below the condensation. The wavelength ranges of typical DKIST/ViSP spectra of solar flares will be sufficient to test the predictions of extreme hydrogen wing broadening and accurately constrain large densities in chromospheric condensations.

Adam F. Kowalski↗

Time-dependent models of radiatively driven stellar winds. I - Nonlinear evolution of instabilities for a pure absorption model

Numerical radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of the nonlinear evolution of instabilities in radiatively driven stellar winds have been performed. The results show a strong tendency for the unstable flow to form rather sharp rarefactions in which the highest speed material has very low density. The qualitative features of the model agree well with the reqirements of displaced narrow absorption components in UV lines.

Owocki, Stanley P.↗

Towards Surrogate Modeling of Subgrid Turbulent Transport for 3D Radiative Hydrodynamic Simulations of the Quiet Sun

In this work, we investigate the use of deep learn-ing techniques as surrogate models, to enhance the estimationof effects of subgrid turbulent transport for 3D radiatuve hy-drodynamic simulations of the quiet Sun. We develop two dis-tinct 3D Convolutional Neural Networks (3DCNNs) to capturespatio-temporal dependencies in 3D velocity fields, leveragingdifferent activation functions and architectural designs. Thesemodels integrate both averaged velocity vector components andscalar features such as plasma density to enhance predictionaccuracy. Additionally, a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) modelis employed to approximate complex nonlinear relationships,offering a comparison in performance between convolutionaland fully connected architectures. Logarithmic transformationis applied to the targets to handle heavily skewed data, im-proving model performance. All models are compared againsta physics-based Gradient Model. Results show that the 3DCNNmodels excel at approximating Reynolds stress tensors, makingthem a candidate for assisting in producing reduced resolutionsimulations, and thereby reducing computational overheadwhile maintaining higher accuracy than the baseline. Thesefindings demonstrate the potential of deep learning, particu-larly CNNs, to advance scalable and accurate simulations ofsolar dynamics, offering a promising alternative to traditionalturbulence models.

Heliophysics↗

Surrogate Modeling of Subgrid Turbulent Transport Based on 3D Radiative Hydrodynamic Simulations of the Quiet Sun

Turbulent Transport: Plays a critical role in astrophysical plasmas, such as the solar interior, spanning multiple scales and challenging traditional modeling approaches. Objective: Develop machine learning (ML) models—MLP and CNN—to predict subgrid Reynolds stress tensors from StellarBox 3D simulations of the solar atmosphere. Benchmarking: Compare ML-driven models against physics-based Gradient and Smagorinsky approaches.

SMD↗