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The Sun's activity is determined by the Sun's magnetic field. Two combined effects are responsible for the latter: The omega and the alpha effect. Exactly where and how the alpha effect originates is currently unknown. Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are putting forward a new theory for this in the journal Solar Physics. Their calculations suggest that tidal forces from Venus, the Earth and Jupiter can directly influence the Sun's activity.
[...] "Interestingly, every 11.07 years, the Sun and the planets Venus, the Earth and Jupiter are aligned. We asked ourselves: Is it a coincidence that the solar cycle corresponds with the cycle of the conjunction or the opposition of the three planets?" ponders Stefani. Although this question is by no means new, up to now scientists could not identify a plausible physical mechanism for how the very weak tidal effects of Venus, the Earth and Jupiter could influence the Sun's dynamo.
[...] There is significant lack of clarity regarding the position and cause of the alpha effect, which uses the toroidal field to create a poloidal field - the latter running along the Sun's lines of longitude. According to a prevalent theory, the alpha effect's place of origin is near the sunspots, on the Sun's surface. The Dresden researchers have chosen an alternative approach which links the alpha effect to the right- or left-handedness of the Tayler instability. In turn, the Tayler instability arises due to strongly developed toroidal fields in the tachocline. "That way we can essentially also locate the alpha effect in the tachocline," says Frank Stefani.
Now the HZDR scientists have discovered the first evidence for the Tayler instability also oscillating back and forth between right- and left-handedness. What is special about this is that the reversal happens with virtually no change to the flow energy. This means that very small forces are enough to initiate an oscillation in the alpha effect. "Our calculations show that planetary tidal forces act here as minute external pace setters. The oscillation in the alpha effect, which is triggered approximately every eleven years, could cause the polarity reversal of the solar magnetic field and, ultimately, dictate the 22-year cycle of the solar dynamo," according to Stefani.
Journal entry at: https://arxiv.org/abs/1511.09335v2
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Bot on Tuesday June 04 2019, @08:17PM (11 children)
Given the mass difference between the sun and the planets the theory seems a bit far fetched. But the link between gravity and magnetism plus the utmost importance of solar emissions wrt our survival justifies studying such a coincidence.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by ikanreed on Tuesday June 04 2019, @08:25PM
That's the thing about tidal forces, though. When you're operating on barely interacting atoms in a superfluid state(i.e. plasma) every small stochastic force should have some kind of measurable effect.
Like think of the tides on earth. Not much effect on the hyper-viscous, slow moving mantle, but affects translation of the much less viscous(though much more than hydrogen plasma) seas by almost a meter on average.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday June 04 2019, @08:26PM (8 children)
<non-sarcasm>
If this justifies studying because it affects our survival, then surely also worth studying would be climate change.
I thought tags necessary to override the default.
</non-sarcasm>
There is considerable controversy, and I can produce experts who can question whether the moon causes the tides, or the tides cause the moon.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 04 2019, @08:46PM (4 children)
I can produce experts that question whether the moon and the sun consist of the same electrons.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday June 04 2019, @09:00PM (3 children)
There are some that question whether the moon and sun, and everything else share the SAME single electron.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 04 2019, @09:34PM (2 children)
so what.... there are some that question whether the moon and sun, and everything else and everything in the other 10^27,000 and growing universes in the multiverse share the SAME single electron.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 04 2019, @09:38PM (1 child)
Sorry, its actually 10^272,000 universes: https://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=9968#comment-228993 [columbia.edu]
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Wednesday June 05 2019, @09:06AM
Out by a factor approx 2. You forgot about the positrons.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday June 04 2019, @08:55PM (2 children)
Sometimes I have no idea at all how to mod a comment on this site.
+ 1 Funny?
- 1 Troll?
Maybe we need a + or - 1 Weirdness mod.
(Score: 4, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday June 04 2019, @09:02PM
This workplace has gone
0000
days free of stupid jokes.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday June 04 2019, @09:04PM
Oh, yeah, forgot to mention: the joke about whether the moon causes the tides or the tides cause the moon is from an old sci fi book, I think with the title "have space suit will travel" which I read in about 1982.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday June 04 2019, @10:00PM
Astrology-level far-fetchedness?
"Explaining Planetary Alignments Relationship to the Sunspot Cycle"
Ray Tomes, Auckland NZ (2004)
[...]
Because the inner planets plus Jupiter have the biggest tidal effects, the shorter periods predominate in the tidal hypothesis, although a study of syzygys will show that more complex nearly repeating configurations get many things right about the sunspot cycle. The syzygy proposal has a number of successes because it predicts that the average sunspot period will be 11.07 years and it is actually 11.08, and that the distribution will be bimodal with periods clustered near 10.4 and 12.0 years which is also correct. These studies are based on correlations, and although we know how to calculate tides, we do not know what mechanisms might get from tides to sunspots.
Note: An approximate syzygy of Jupiter, Venus and Earth occurs every 1.6 years, but good syzygys occur at intervals averaging 11.07 years although they are clustered around 10.38 and 12.00 years. There is definitely something in the tidal hypothesis.
[...]
-- http://www.astrology.co.uk/tests/tomes.htm
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday June 04 2019, @09:09PM (1 child)
> In turn, the Tayler instability arises due to strongly developed toroidal fields in the tachocline.
> "That way we can essentially also locate the alpha effect in the tachocline
If a piece of paper folded a few times isn't good enough, maybe they can fix their newfangled whatchamacallit instability with Duct Tape.
/just sayin'
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday June 05 2019, @01:44PM
If a piece of paper folded a few times isn't good enough, then get a new foldable phone and fold it a few times.
Why is it so difficult to break a heroine addiction?