arXiv subjects

Alfio Bonanno

Publications and source records attributed to Alfio Bonanno.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Stability of the toroidal magnetic field in stellar radiation zones

Understanding the stability of the magnetic field in radiation zones is of crucial importance for various processes in stellar interior like mixing, circulation and angular momentum transport. The stability properties of a star containing a prominent toroidal field in a radiation zone is investigated by means of a linear stability analysis in the Boussinesq approximation taking into account the effect of thermal conductivity. The growth rate of the instability is explicitly calculated and the effects of stable stratification and heat transport are discussed in detail. It is argued that the stabilizing influence of gravity can never entirely suppress the instability caused by electric currents in radiation zones although the stable stratification can significantly decrease the growth rate of instability

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Asteroseismic diagrams from a survey of solar-like oscillations with Kepler

Photometric observations made by the NASA Kepler Mission have led to a dramatic increase in the number of main-sequence and subgiant stars with detected solar-like oscillations. We present an ensemble asteroseismic analysis of 76 solar-type stars. Using frequencies determined from the Kepler time-series photometry, we have measured three asteroseismic parameters that characterize the oscillations: the large frequency separation (Δν), the small frequency separation between modes of l=0 and l=2 (δν_02), and the dimensionless offset (ε). These measurements allow us to construct asteroseismic diagrams, namely the so-called C-D diagram of δν_02 versus Δν, and the recently re-introduced ε diagram. We compare the Kepler results with previously observed solar-type stars and with theoretical models. The positions of stars in these diagrams places constraints on their masses and ages. Additionally, we confirm the observational relationship between ε and T_eff that allows for the unambiguous determination of radial order and should help resolve the problem of mode identification in F stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Inflationary solutions in asymptotically safe f(R) theories

We discuss the existence of inflationary solutions in a class of renormalization group improved polynomial f(R) theories, which have been studied recently in the context of the asymptotic safety scenario for quantum gravity. These theories seem to possess a nontrivial ultraviolet fixed point, where the dimensionful couplings scale according to their canonical dimensionality. Assuming that the cutoff is proportional to the Hubble parameter, we obtain modified Friedmann equations which admit both power law and exponential solutions. We establish that for sufficiently high order polynomial the solutions are reliable, in the sense that considering still higher order polynomials is very unlikely to change the solution.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Pns dynamo: Theory and observations

We briefly review the turbulent mean-field dynamo action in protoneutron stars that are subject to convective and neutron finger instabilities during the early evolutionary phase. By solving the mean-field induction equation with the simplest model of $α$-quenching we estimate the strength of the generated magnetic field. If the initial period of the protoneutron star is short, then the generated large-scale field is very strong ($> 3 \times 10^{13}$G) and exceeds the small-scale field at the neutron star surface, while if the rotation is moderate, then the pulsars are formed with more or less standard dipole fields ($< 3 \times 10^{13}$G) but with surface small-scale magnetic fields stronger than the dipole field. If rotation is very slow, then the mean-field dynamo does not operate, and the neutron star has no global field.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2010

Entropy Production during Asymptotically Safe Inflation

The Asymptotic Safety scenario predicts that the deep ultraviolet of Quantum Einstein Gravity is governed by a nontrivial renormalization group fixed point. Analyzing its implications for cosmology using renormalization group improved Einstein equations we find that it can give rise to a phase of inflationary expansion in the early Universe. Inflation is a pure quantum effect here and requires no inflaton field. It is driven by the cosmological constant and ends automatically when the renormalization group evolution has reduced the vacuum energy to the level of the matter energy density. The quantum gravity effects also provide a natural mechanism for the generation of entropy. It could easily account for the entire entropy of the present Universe in the massless sector.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

The magnetohydrodynamic instability of current-carrying jets

Magnetohydrodynamic instabilities can be responsible for the formation of structures with various scales in astrophysical jets. We consider the stability properties of jets containing both the azimuthal and axial field of subthermal strength. A magnetic field with complex topology in jets is suggested by theoretical models and is consistent with recent observations. Stability is discussed by means of a linear analysis of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations. We argue that in azimuthal and axial magnetic fields the jet is always unstable to non-axisymmetric perturbations. Stabilization does not occur even if the strengths of these field components are comparable. If the axial field is weaker than the azimuthal one, instability occurs for perturbations with any azimuthal wave number $m$, and the growth rate reaches a saturation value for low values of $m$. If the axial field is stronger than the toroidal one, the instability shows for perturbations with relatively high $m$.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2010

Asteroseismic modelling of Procyon A: Preliminary results

We present our preliminary results of the modelling of the F5 star Procyon A. The frequencies predicted by our models are compared with the frequencies extracted through a global fit to the power spectrum obtained by the latest ground-based observations, which provides two different mode identification scenarios.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2009

Astrophysical implications of the Asymptotic Safety Scenario in Quantum Gravity

In recent years it has emerged that the high energy behavior of gravity could be governed by an ultraviolet non-Gaussian fixed point of the (dimensionless) Newton's constant, whose behavior at high energy is thus {\it antiscreened}. This phenomenon has several astrophysical implications. In particular in this article recent works on renormalization group improved cosmologies based upon a renormalization group trajectory of Quantum Einstein Gravity with realistic parameter values will be reviewed. It will be argued that quantum effects can account for the entire entropy of the present Universe in the massless sector and give rise to a phase of inflationary expansion. Moreover the prediction for the final state of the black hole evaporation is a Planck size remnant which is formed in an infinite time.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

A multi-site campaign to measure solar-like oscillations in Procyon. I. Observations, Data Reduction and Slow Variations

We have carried out a multi-site campaign to measure oscillations in the F5 star Procyon A. We obtained high-precision velocity observations over more than three weeks with eleven telescopes, with almost continuous coverage for the central ten days. This represents the most extensive campaign so far organized on any solar-type oscillator. We describe in detail the methods we used for processing and combining the data. These involved calculating weights for the velocity time series from the measurement uncertainties and adjusting them in order to minimize the noise level of the combined data. The time series of velocities for Procyon shows the clear signature of oscillations, with a plateau of excess power that is centred at 0.9 mHz and is broader than has been seen for other stars. The mean amplitude of the radial modes is 38.1 +/- 1.3 cm/s (2.0 times solar), which is consistent with previous detections from the ground and by the WIRE spacecraft, and also with the upper limit set by the MOST spacecraft. The variation of the amplitude during the observing campaign allows us to estimate the mode lifetime to be 1.5 d (+1.9/-0.8 d). We also find a slow variation in the radial velocity of Procyon, with good agreement between different telescopes. These variations are remarkably similar to those seen in the Sun, and we interpret them as being due to rotational modulation from active regions on the stellar surface. The variations appear to have a period of about 10 days, which presumably equals the stellar rotation period or, perhaps, half of it. The amount of power in these slow variations indicates that the fractional area of Procyon covered by active regions is slightly higher than for the Sun.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Non-axisymmetric instability of axisymmetric magnetic fields

The MHD instabilities can generate complex field topologies even if the initial field configuration is a very simple one. We consider the stability properties of magnetic configurations containing a toroidal and an axial field. In this paper, we concentrate mainly on the behavior of non-axisymmetric perturbations in axisymmetric magnetic configurations. The stability is treated by a linear analysis of ideal MHD equations.In the presence of an axial field, it is shown that the instability can occur for a wide range of the azimuthal wavenumber $m$, and its growth rate increases with increasing $m$. At given $m$, the growth rate is at its maximum for perturbations with the axial wave-vector that makes the Alfvén frequency approximately vanishing. We argue that the instability of magnetic configurations in the ideal MHD can typically be dominated by perturbations with very short azimuthal and axial wavelengths.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Primordial Entropy Production and Lambda-driven Inflation from Quantum Einstein Gravity

We review recent work on renormalization group (RG) improved cosmologies based upon a RG trajectory of Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) with realistic parameter values. In particular we argue that QEG effects can account for the entire entropy of the present Universe in the massless sector and give rise to a phase of inflationary expansion. This phase is a pure quantum effect and requires no classical inflaton field.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Magnetic shear-driven instability and turbulent mixing in magnetized protostellar disks

Observations of protostellar disks indicate the presence of the magnetic field of thermal (or superthermal) strength. In such a strong magnetic field, many MHD instabilities responsible for turbulent transport of the angular momentum are suppressed. We consider the shear-driven instability that can occur in protostellar disks even if the field is superthermal. This instability is caused by the combined influence of shear and compressibility in a magnetized gas and can be an efficient mechanism to generate turbulence in disks. The typical growth time is of the order of several rotation periods.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Stability of magnetic configurations containing the toroidal and axial fields

Stability properties of magnetic-field configurations containing the toroidal and axial field are considered. The stability is treated by making use of linear analysis. It is shown that the conditions required for the onset of instability are essentially different from those given by the necessary condition $d (s B_ϕ)/ds > 0$, where $s$ is the cylindrical radius. The growth rate of instability is calculated for a wide range of the parameters. We argue that the instability can operate in two different regimes depending on the strength of the axial field and the profile of the toroidal field.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Stretching of the toroidal field and generation of magnetosonic waves in differentially rotating plasma

We evaluate the generation of magnetosonic waves in differentially rotating magnetized plasma. Differential rotation leads to an increase of the azimuthal field by winding up the poloidal field lines into the toroidal field lines. An amplification of weak seed perturbations is considered in this time-dependent background state. It is shown that seed perturbations can be amplified by several orders of magnitude in a differentially rotating flow. The only necessary condition for this amplification is the presence of a non-vanishing component of the magnetic field in the direction of the angular velocity gradient.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Noether symmetry approach to scalar-field-dominated cosmology with dynamically evolving G and Lambda

This paper studies the cosmological equations for a scalar field Phi in the framework of a quantum gravity modified Einstein--Hilbert Lagrangian where G and Lambda are dynamical variables. It is possible to show that there exists a Noether symmetry for the point Lagrangian describing this scheme in a FRW universe. Our main result is that the Noether Symmetry Approach fixes both Lambda = Lambda(G) and the potential V = V(Phi) of the scalar field. The method does not lead, however, to easily solvable equations, by virtue of the higher dimensionality of the reduced configuration space involved, the additional variable being the running Newton coupling.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

Hydromagnetic Instability in plane Couette Flow

We study the stability of a compressible magnetic plane Couette flow and show that compressibility profoundly alters the stability properties if the magnetic field has a component perpendicular to the direction of flow. The necessary condition of a newly found instability can be satisfied in a wide variety of flows in laboratory and astrophysical conditions. The instability can operate even in a very strong magnetic field which entirely suppresses other MHD instabilities. The growth time of this instability can be rather short and reach $\sim 10$ shear timescales.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Entropy signature of the running cosmological constant

Renormalization group (RG) improved cosmologies based upon a RG trajectory of Quantum Einstein Gravity (QEG) with realistic parameter values are investigated using a system of cosmological evolution equations which allows for an unrestricted energy exchange between the vacuum and the matter sector. It is demonstrated that the scale dependence of the gravitational parameters, the cosmological constant in particular, leads to an entropy production in the matter system. The picture emerges that the Universe started out from a state of vanishing entropy, and that the radiation entropy observed today is essentially due to the coarse graining (RG flow) in the quantum gravity sector which is related to the expansion of the Universe. Furthermore, the RG improved field equations are shown to possess solutions with an epoch of power law inflation immediately after the initial singularity. The inflation is driven by the cosmological constant and ends automatically once the RG running has reduced the vacuum energy to the level of the matter energy density.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Compressibility and local instabilities of differentially rotating magnetized gas

We study the stability of compressible cylindrical differentially rotating flow in the presence of the magnetic field, and show that compressibility alters qualitatively the stability properties of flows. Apart from the well-known magnetorotational instability that can occur even in incompressible flow, there exist a new instability caused by compressibility. The necessary condition of the newly found instability can easily be satisfied in various flows in laboratory and astrophysical conditions and reads $B_{s} B_ϕ Ω' \neq 0$ where $B_{s}$ and $B_ϕ$ are the radial and azimuthal magnetic fields, $Ω' =d Ω/ds$ with $s$ being the cylindrical radius. Contrary to the magnetorotational instability that occurs only if $Ω$ decreases with $s$, the newly found instability operates at any sign of $Ω'$. The considered instability can arise even in a very strong magnetic field that suppresses the magnetorotational instability.

astro-ph↗