Dynamo models of grand minima

Details Dynamo models of grand minima Dynamo models of grand minima

2011-11-08

arxiv.org/abs/1111.1839v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

10 pages, 5 figures. Proceedings of IAU Symposium 286: Comparative Magnetic Minima: Characterizing quiet times in the Sun and

Scientific paper

Since a universally accepted dynamo model of grand minima does not exist at the present time, we concentrate on the physical processes which may be behind the grand minima. After summarizing the relevant observational data, we make the point that, while the usual sources of irregularities of solar cycles may be sufficient to cause a grand minimum, the solar dynamo has to operate somewhat differently from the normal to bring the Sun out of the grand minimum. We then consider three possible sources of irregularities in the solar dynamo: (i) nonlinear effects; (ii) fluctuations in the poloidal field generation process; (iii) fluctuations in the meridional circulation. We conclude that (i) is unlikely to be the cause behind grand minima, but a combination of (ii) and (iii) may cause them. If fluctuations make the poloidal field fall much below the average or make the meridional circulation significantly weaker, then the Sun may be pushed into a grand minimum.

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