Continuum Mechanics
The Continuum Mechanics group consists of two subgroups:
Staff
Joseph Cousins : Research Assistant
;
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Prof Nicholas A Hill : Simson Chair
Biological and physiological fluid dynamics; bioconvection; physiological pulse propagation;; Soft tissue mechanics; aneurysms; aortic dissection; gall bladder pain; upscaling; Random walk models for movement of micro-organisms and animals; spatial point processes in plant ecology
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Research students: Andrew Brown, Sathish Kumar, Jay MacKenzie, Roxanna Barry, Laura Miller
Postgraduate opportunities: A coupled cardiovascular-respiration model for mechanical ventilation
Dr Katarzyna Kowal : Lecturer
;
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Postgraduate opportunities: Viscous fingering instabilities: control and flow-structure interaction, Flow of glacial ice sheets over deformable material
Dr Wenguang Li : Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Biomechanics; modelling of gallbladder; non-linear finite strain modelling
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Supervisor: Xiaoyu Luo
Prof Xiaoyu Luo : Professor of Applied Mathematics
Biomechanics; fluid-structure interactions; mathematical biology ; solid mechanics
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Research staff: Hao Gao, Wenguang Li, Qingying Shu
Research students: Debao Guan, Xin Zhuan, Ahmed Mostafa Abdelhady Ismaeel, Jay MacKenzie, Yingjie Wang
Postgraduate opportunities: Assessing risk of heart failure with cardiac modelling and statistical inference
Dr David MacTaggart : Lecturer
Theoretical fluid dynamics, Magnetohydrodynamics, Magnetic topology
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Research students: Jamie Quinn, Parag Gupta
Postgraduate opportunities: Magnetic helicity as the key to dynamo bistability , Observationally-constrained 3D convective spherical models of the solar dynamo (Solar MHD), Stellar atmospheres and their magnetic helicity fluxes
Prof Nigel Mottram : Professor of Applied Mathematics
My research interests are in the mathematical modelling of real-world systems, generally focussing on those that include the dynamics of non-Newtonian fluids. I am particularly interested in anisotropic fluids such as liquid crystals, where viscoelasticity is an important consideration, as is their behaviour under electric fields.
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Research student: Parna Mandal
Postgraduate opportunities: Mathematical Modelling of Liquid Crystal Displays, Mathematical Modelling of Active Fluids, Flow of glacial ice sheets over deformable material, Viscous fingering instabilities: control and flow-structure interaction
Dr Raymond W Ogden : George Sinclair Chair
Nonlinear elasticity; biomechanics
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Research staff: Andrey Melnik
Dr Raimondo Penta : Lecturer
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Research students: Tahani Al Sariri, Laura Miller, Andrew Brown
Dr Ariel Ramirez Torres : Lecturer
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Dr Steven Roper : Lecturer
I am interested in applications of continuum mechanics to phenomena in materials science. In particular problems involving solid mechanics and surface science (the combined chemical and mechanical equilibrium of droplets of fluid in contact with soluble substrates); crystal growth; pattern formation (block co-polymers).; I am interested in applications of fluid mechanics to industrial and geophysical problems. In particular in fluid-driven fracture (the interaction of flow fluid with fracture mechanics); porous media (particularly the reactive porous media found in the solidification of pure and alloyed materials - mushy layers); compositional convection; low Reynolds number flow (thin films and free surface flows); the behaviour of foams.
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Research students: Bushra Al-Ghabshi, Andrew Brown
Prof Radostin Simitev : Professor of Applied Mathematics
Reaction-diffusion equations; Excitable systems; Mathematical models of cardiac electrical excitation; Thermal convection in rotating systems; MHD and dynamo theory
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Research students: Muhamad Bin Noor Aziz, Parag Gupta, Antesar Mohammed Al Dawoud, Peter Mortensen, Tahani Al Sariri, Jamie Quinn
Postgraduate opportunities: Observationally-constrained 3D convective spherical models of the solar dynamo (Solar MHD), Electrophysiological modelling of hearts with diseases, Fast-slow asymptotic analysis of cardiac excitation models, Numerical simulations of planetary and stellar dynamos, Stellar atmospheres and their magnetic helicity fluxes,
Dr Peter Stewart : Senior lecturer
; ;
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Research students: Roxanna Barry, Ahmed Mostafa Abdelhady Ismaeel, Gordon McNicol, Ifeanyi Onah Sunday
Postgraduate opportunities: Mathematical models of vasculogenesis, A coupled cardiovascular-respiration model for mechanical ventilation , Predicting patterns of retinal haemorrhage, Theoretical modelling of cell response to external cues, Radial foam fracture, Continuous production of solid metal foams
Dr Robert Teed : Lecturer
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Postgraduate opportunities: Force balances in planetary cores and atmospheres, Observationally-constrained 3D convective spherical models of the solar dynamo (Solar MHD), Stellar atmospheres and their magnetic helicity fluxes
Dr Stephen J Watson : Lecturer
; The application of new mathematical ideas and new computational paradigms to material science, with an emphasis on self-assembling nano-materials; analysis and numerical analysis of partial differential equations arising in Continuum Physics; Material Science and Geometry.
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Analysis
Dr Wei Zhang : Lecturer
Ecological modelling; hierarchical models; likelihood approximation methods;
Member of other research groups: Statistics and Data Analytics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Postgraduates
Bushra Al-Ghabshi : PhD Student
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Supervisor: Steven Roper
Andrew Brown : PhD Student
;
Research Topic: Multiscale Modelling of Tissue Tearing
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Supervisors: Nicholas A Hill, Raimondo Penta, Steven Roper
Parag Gupta : PhD Student
Research Topic: Modelling of stellar differential rotation and related dynamo
properties
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Supervisors: Radostin Simitev, David MacTaggart
Sathish Kumar : PhD Student
;
Research Topic: Optimisation of stent devices to treat dissected aorta
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Supervisor: Nicholas A Hill
Parna Mandal : PhD Student
;
Research Topic: Optimising antibiotic release from medical implants to counteract
biofilm formation
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Supervisor: Nigel Mottram
Gordon McNicol : PhD Student
;
Research Topic: A mathematical model for nanokicking
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Supervisor: Peter Stewart
Laura Miller : PhD Student
;
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Supervisors: Raimondo Penta, Nicholas A Hill
Jamie Quinn : PhD Student
Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Supervisors: David MacTaggart, Radostin Simitev
Xin Zhuan : PhD Student
;
Research Topic: Heart tissue remodelling under stress
Member of other research groups: Mathematical Biology, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Supervisor: Xiaoyu Luo
Postgraduate opportunities
Continuous production of solid metal foams (PhD)
Supervisors: Peter Stewart
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Porous metallic solids, or solid metal foams, are exceedingly useful in many engineering applications, as they can be manufactured to be strong yet exceedingly lightweight. However, industrial processing methods for producing such foams are problematic and unreliable, and it is not currently possible to control the porosity distribution of the final product a priori.
This project will consider a new method of solid foam production, where bubbles of gas are introduced continuously into a molten metal flowing through a heat exchanger; foaming and solidification then occur almost simulatanously, allowing the foam structure to be controlled pointwise. The aim of this project is to construct a simple mathematical model for a gas bubble moving in a liquid filled channel ahead of a solidification front, to predict optimal conditions whereby the gas bubble is drawn toward the phase boundary, hence forming a porous solid.
This project will require some background in fluid mechanics and a combination of analytical and numerical techniques for solving partial differential equations.
Radial foam fracture (PhD)
Supervisors: Peter Stewart
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Gas-liquid foams are a useful analgoue of crystalline atomic solids. 2D foam fracture has been used to study the mechanisms of fracture in metals. A two-dimenisonal network model (formed from a large system of differential equations) has recently been produced to study foam fracture in a rectangular channel which is pressurised along one edge. This model has helped to explain the origin of the velocity gap (a range of inadmissable steady fracture velocities), observed both in foam fracture experiments and in atomistic simulations of brittle fracture. This project will apply this network modelling approach to study radial foam fracture in a Hele-Shaw cell, to mimick recent experiments. This system has strong similarity to radial Saffmann-Taylor fingering, where fingering has been observed when a less viscous fluid displaces a more viscous fluid in a confined geometry. This project will involve studying systems of ordinary and partial differential equations using both numerical and analytical methods.
Predicting patterns of retinal haemorrhage (PhD)
Supervisors: Peter Stewart
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Mathematical Biology, Statistics and Data Analytics
Retinal haemorrhage (bleeding of the blood vessels in the retina) often accompanies traumatic brain injury and is one of the clinical indicators of `shaken baby syndrome'. This PhD project will give you the opportunity to develop a combination of mathematical and statistical models to help explain the onset of retinal haemorrhage. You will devise and implement image processing algorithms to quantify the pattern of bleeding in clinical images of haemorrhaged retinas. In addition, you will develop a mathematical model for pressure wave propagation through the retinal circulation in response to an acute rise in intracranial pressure, to predict the pattern of retinal bleeding and correlate to the images. Cutting-edge pattern recognition methods from Machine Learning and Bayesian modelling will be used to infer characteristic signatures of different types of brain trauma. These will be used to help clinicians in characterising the origin of traumatic brain injury and diagnosing its severity. This is an ideal project for a postgraduate student with an interest in applying mathematical modelling, image analysis and machine learning to predictive healthcare. The project will give you the opportunity to join a cross-disciplinary Research Hub that aims to push the boundaries of quantitative medicine and improve clinical decision making in cases of suspected non-accidental head injury using innovative mathematical and statistical modelling.
Numerical simulations of planetary and stellar dynamos (PhD)
Supervisors: Radostin Simitev
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Using Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics to model the magnetic fields of the Earth, planets, the Sun and stars. Involves high-performance computing.
Theoretical modelling of cell response to external cues (PhD)
Supervisors: Peter Stewart
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Mathematical Biology
Cells and tissues respond to mechanotransductive and biochemical cues. These external cues interact with protein signaling pathways within the cell and can trigger changes in size, structure, binding and differentiation. This project will use theoretical modelling to examine the response of an array of cells to various external mechanical and biochemical cues, considering how these cues can be tailored to optimize a particular outcome. The model will couple the mechanical components of the cell (nucleus, cytoskeleton,…) to internal protein expression pathways (Myosin II, MLCK,…) and the properties of the external stimuli. The model will take the form of coupled differential equations which will be solved using both analytical and numerical methods.
This model will be validated against experimental data in two main ways, including examining the response of the array to small amplitude mechanical vibration (‘nanokicking’) to predict its influence on the behavior of the array over long timescales. The model will also be used to understand growth factor delivery using PODS® technology developed by Cell Guidance Systems to predict the optimal spatial arrangement of PODS® relative to the array and the resulting temporal and spatial profiles of both the growth factor and the cell growth and proliferation.
This project involves collaboration with Prof Matt Dalby (Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology).
Mathematical models of vasculogenesis (PhD)
Supervisors: Peter Stewart
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Mathematical Biology
Vasculogenesis is the process of forming new blood vessels from endothelial cells, which occurs during embryonic development. Viable blood vessels facilitate tissue perfusion, allowing the tissue to grow beyond the diffusion-limited size. However, in the absence of vasculogenesis, efforts to engineer functional tissues (eg for implantation) are restricted to this diffusion-limited size. This project will investigate mathematical models for vasculogenesis and explore mechanisms to stimulate blood vessel formation for in vitro tissues. The project will involve collaboration with Department of Biological Engineering at MIT, as part of the SofTMechMP project.
Mathematical Modelling of Active Fluids (PhD)
Supervisors: Nigel Mottram
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Mathematical Biology
The area of active fluids is currently a “hot topic” in biological, physical and mathematical research circles. Such fluids contain active organisms which can be influenced by the flow of fluid around them but, crucially, also influence the flow themselves, i.e. by swimming. When the organisms are anisotropic (as is often the case) a model of such a system must include these inherent symmetries. Models of bacteria and even larger organisms such as fish have started to be developed over the last ten years in order to examine the order, self-organisation and pattern formation within these systems, although direct correlation and comparison to real-world situations has been limited.
This project will use the theories and modelling techniques of liquid crystal systems and apply such modelling techniques to the area of anisotropy and self-organisation derived from active agents. The research will involve a continuum description of the fluid, using equations similar to the classical Navier-Stokes equations, as well as both the analytical and numerical solution of ordinary and partial differential equations.
Contact nigel.mottram@glasgow.ac.uk for more details
Mathematical Modelling of Liquid Crystal Displays (PhD)
Supervisors: Nigel Mottram
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
In the modern world, Liquid Crystal Displays are all around us - from your TV and mobile phone, to the small display on your washing machine. Within these displays are thin layers of liquid, which react to an applied electric field to switch between different states. These states have different molecular configurations, and it is how these molecular arrangements interact with liqht that make them crucial to display technologies. The mathematical modelling of these molecular arrangements, using a continuum mechanics approach, has been essential to the development of LCDs over the last thirty years.
In this project we will consider the mathematical modelling of novel types of displays, based on confined regions of liquid crystal and effects such as flexoelectricity and defect latching. As well as the development of these models, and the derivation of the resulting partial differential equations, this project will involve analytic and numerical methods for solving the equations.
The results of this project will lead to a deeper understanding of liquid crystals in confinement but will also help display device manufacturers understand how to improve current and new displays.
Contact nigel.mottram@glasgow.ac.uk for more details
Viscous fingering instabilities: control and flow-structure interaction (PhD)
Supervisors: Katarzyna Kowal, Nigel Mottram
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
The interface between two fluids can be made morphologically unstable, resulting in complex pattern formation frequently encountered in porous media and biological systems. Such phenomena are widespread in nature and industry, ranging from crude oil recovery, hydrology, and filtration, to the self-organisation of collective biological systems and medical applications. In most cases, these instabilities occur when a less viscous fluid displaces a more viscous one, for example water displacing syrup, either by injection or by gravity when the interface separates two fluids of different densities. Initially small disturbances to the liquid-liquid interface may result in the formation of a single finger or multiple fingers that can undergo successive tip-splitting, and may involve complex, multiple finger interactions resulting in interesting fluid-dynamical patterns. In industrial processes, it is often desirable to suppress these instabilities and to control their late-time dynamics. The aim of the project is to investigate suppression techniques involving flow-structure interaction. The project involves mathematical modelling and numerical computation. Informal enquiries: katarzyna.kowal@glasgow.ac.uk / nigel.mottram@glasgow.ac.uk
Flow of glacial ice sheets over deformable material (PhD)
Supervisors: Katarzyna Kowal, Nigel Mottram
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
Ice sheets are large bodies of ice, such those of Greenland and Antarctica, that slowly deform, or spread, under their own weight. Glacial ice appears to behave as a solid on small length and time scales; however, over large scales and under substantial pressure due to their own weight, ice sheets begin to flow as a viscous fluid, much like the viscous fluids we regularly see and eat, like honey and syrup. As such, understanding the flow of thin films of viscous fluids helps us to understand large-scale ice-sheet dynamics. These dynamics are also strongly affected by what is going on beneath ice sheets. The presence of meltwater and glacial till greatly accelerates the flow and results in rapid ice discharge towards the oceans. The project seeks to explore the dependence of the flow of viscous fluids, such as glacial ice sheets on the large scale, on what lubricates it from below and on the accumulation of the underlying material. The project involves mathematical modelling and numerical computation, but depending on the candidate’s interests, there will also be the opportunity for designing and conducting small-scale fluid-dynamical laboratory experiments involving viscous fluids, such as syrup (after COVID). Informal enquiries: katarzyna.kowal@glasgow.ac.uk / nigel.mottram@glasgow.ac.uk
A coupled cardiovascular-respiration model for mechanical ventilation (PhD)
Supervisors: Peter Stewart, Nicholas A Hill
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics, Mathematical Biology
Mechanical ventilation is a clinical treatment used to draw air into the lungs to facilitate breathing, used in treatment of premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome and in the treatment of severe Covid pneumonia. The aim is to oxygenate the blood while simultaneously removing unwanted by-products. However, over-inflation of the lungs can reduce the blood supply to the gas exchange surfaces, leading to a ventilation-perfusion mis-match. This PhD project will give you the opportunity to develop a mathematical model to describe the coupling between blood flow in the pulmonary circulation and air flow in the lungs (during both inspiration and expiration). You will devise a coupled computational framework, capable of testing patient-specific ventilation protocols. This is an ideal project for a postgraduate student with an interest in applying mathematical modelling and image analysis to predictive healthcare. The project will give you the opportunity to join a cross-disciplinary Research Hub that aims to push the boundaries of quantitative medicine and improve clinical decision making using innovative mathematical and statistical modelling.
Observationally-constrained 3D convective spherical models of the solar dynamo (Solar MHD) (PhD)
Supervisors: Radostin Simitev, David MacTaggart, Robert Teed
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Solar magnetic fields are produced by a dynamo process in the Solar convection zone by turbulent motions acting against Ohmic dissipation. Solar magnetic activity affects nearEarth space environment and can harm modern technology and endanger human health. Further, Solar magnetism poses fundamental physical and mathematical problems, e.g. about the nature of plasma turbulence and the topology of magnetic field generation. Current models of the global Solar dynamo fall in two classes (a) mean-field dynamos (b) convection-driven dynamos. The mean-field models are only phenomenological as they replace turbulent interactions by ad-hoc source and quenching terms. On the other hand, spherical convection-driven dynamo models are derived from basic principles with minimal assumptions and potentially offer true predictive power; these can also be extended to other stars and giant planets. However, at present, convection driven dynamo models operate in a wrong dynamical regime and have limited success in reproducing a number of important 1 observations including (a) the sunspot cycle period, polarity reversals and the sunspot butterfly diagram, (b) the poleward migration of diffuse surface magnetic fields, (c) the polar field strength and phase relationships between poloidal/toroidal components. The aims of this project are to (a) develop a three-dimensional convection-driven Solar dynamo model constrained by assimilation of helioseismic data, and (b) start to use the model to estimate turbulent properties that determine the internal dynamics and activity cycles of the Sun.
Force balances in planetary cores and atmospheres (PhD)
Supervisors: Robert Teed, Radostin Simitev
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Current dynamo simulations are run, not under the conditions of planetary cores and atmospheres, but in a regime idealised for computations. To forecast changes in planetary magnetic fields such as reversals and dynamo collapse, it is vital to understand the actual fluid dynamics of these regions.
The aim of this project is to produce simulations of planetary cores and atmospheres with realistic force balances and, in doing so, understand how such force balances arise and affect the dynamics of the flow. Force balances control many aspects of the fluid dynamics, and hence the dynamo process itself, including the size of flow structure, the buoyancy flux and zonal flows, so an understanding of the force balance available in various planetary cores and atmospheres is vital for understanding their dynamo processes. To achieve this the project will use a different technique to that typically used in dynamo simulations. The approach is to perform global simulations in a spherical shell with a magnetic field imposed by explicitly setting a component (or components) of the field at one of the boundaries. Within the interior the field is evaluated as normal using the induction equation. This set-up amounts to a model of magnetoconvection where the dynamics of the flow and magnetic field can be studied independently of the dynamo mechanism.
Magnetic helicity as the key to dynamo bistability (PhD)
Supervisors: David MacTaggart, Radostin Simitev
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
The planets in the solar system exhibit very different types of large-scale magnetic field.The Earth has a strongly dipolar field, whereas the fields of other solar system planets, such as Uranus and Neptune, are far more irregular. Although the different physical compositions of the planets of the solar system will influence the behaviour of the large-scale magnetic fields that they generate, the morphology of planetary magnetic fields can depend on properties of dynamos common to all planets. Here, we refer to an important and recent discovery from dynamo simulations. Remarkably, two very different types of chaotic dipolar dynamo solutions have been found to exist over identical values of the basic parameters of a generic model of convection-driven dynamos in rotating spherical shells. The two solutions mentioned above can be characterised as ‘mean dynamos’, MD, where a strong poloidal field dominates and ‘fluctuating dynamos’, FD, where the poloidal component is weaker and the large-scale field can be described as multipolar. Although these two states have been shown to be bistable (co-exist) for a wide range of identical parameters, it is not clear how a particular state, MD or FD, is chosen and how/when one state can change to the other. Some of the bifurcations of such states has been investigated, but a deep understanding of the dynamics that cause the bifurcations remains to be developed. Since the magnetic topology of MD and FD states are fundamentally different, an important part of this project will be to probe the nature of MD and FD states by studying magnetic helicity, a magnetohydrodynamic invariant that combines information on the topology of the magnetic field with the magnetic flux. The role of magnetic helicity and other helicities (e.g. cross helicity) is currently not well understood in relation to MD and FD states, but these quantities are conjectured to be very important in the development of MD and FD states.
Bistability is also related to a very important phenomenon in dynamos - global field reversal. A strongly dipolar (MD) field can change to a transitional multipolar (FD) state before a reversal and then settle into another dipolar equilibrium (of opposite polarity) again after the reversal.This project aims to develop a coherent picture of how bistability operates in spherical dynamos. Since bistability is a fundamental property of dynamos, a characterisation of how bistable solutions form and develop is key for any deep understanding of planetary dynamos and, in particular, could be crucial for understanding magnetic field reversals.
Stellar atmospheres and their magnetic helicity fluxes (PhD)
Supervisors: Simon Candelaresi, Radostin Simitev, David MacTaggart, Robert Teed
Relevant research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
Our Sun and many other stars have a strong large-scale magnetic field with a characteristic time variation. We know that this field is being generated via a dynamo mechanism driven by the turbulent convective motions inside the stars. The magnetic helicity, a quantifier of the field’s topology, is and essential ingredient in this process. In turbulent environments it is responsible for the inverse cascade that leads to the large-scale field, while the build up of its small-scale component can quench the dynamo.
In this project, the student will study the effects of magnetic helicity fluxes that happen below the stellar surface (photosphere), within the stellar atmosphere (chromosphere and corona) and between these two layers. This will be done using two-dimensional mean field simulations that allow parameter studies for different physical parameters. A fully three-dimensional model of a convective stellar wedge will then be used to provide a more detailed picture of the helicity fluxes and their effect on the dynamo. Using recent advancements that allow us to extract surface helicity fluxes from solar observations, the student will make use of observations to verify the simulation results. Other recent observational results on the stellar magnetic helicity will be used to benchmark the findings.