Abstract
The possible role of convective-flow instabilities in the formation of certain structures observed in the solar photospheric and subphotospheric layers is discussed. High-resolution video records suggest that the granulation field is structurally and dynamically ordered in accordance with the mesogranulation pattern. Thus, it strikingly resembles the so-called spoke patterns of convection observed experimentally. These patterns could be produced by some instability of the mesogranular flow. Mesogranules seem to be the main structural features of the velocity field, whereas granules behave as relatively passive elements—blobs of overheated material carried by the mesogranular flow. One possible mechanism for their origin is the development of a three-dimensional analogue of the one-blob or the two-blob instability known from studies of convection. In particular, if this interpretation is adopted, the phenomenon of exploding granules can be accounted for in a natural way.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. V. Getling, Rayleigh-Bénard Convection: Structures and Dynamics (World Scientific, Singapore, 1998; URSS, Moscow, 1999).
A. V. Getling, Usp. Fiz. Nauk 161(9), 1 (1991) [Sov. Phys. Usp. 34 (9), 737 (1991)].
G. W. Simon and R. B. Leighton, Astrophys. J. 140(3), 1120 (1964).
L. J. November, J. Toomre, K. B. Gebbie, et al., Astrophys. J. Lett. 245(3), L123 (1981).
A. V. Getling, Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Mekh. Zhidk. Gaza, No. 5, 45 (1975).
A. V. Getling, Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Fiz. Atmos. Okeana 16(5), 529 (1980).
A. M. Title, T. D. Tarbell, G. W. Simon, and the SOUP Team, Adv. Space Res. 8(8), 253 (1986).
R. Muller, H. Auffret, T. Roudier, et al., Nature 356(6367), 322 (1992).
S. I. Amal’skaya, Soln. Dannye, No. 3, 87 (1990).
P. Foukal, Solar Astrophysics (Wiley, New York, 1990).
A. M. Title, T. D. Tarbell, K. P. Topka, et al., Astrophys. J. 336(1), 475 (1989).
G. W. Simon, A. M. Title, and N. O. Weiss, Astrophys. J. 375(2), 775 (1991).
G. W. Simon, A. M. Title, and N. O. Weiss, Adv. Space Res. 11(5), 259 (1991).
F. H. Busse and R. M. Clever, Arch. Mech. 43(5), 565 (1991).
F. H. Busse, Acta Mech. Suppl. 4, 11 (1994).
E. W. Bolton, F. H. Busse, and R. M. Clever, J. Fluid Mech. 164, 469 (1986).
H. I. Abdussamatov and A. G. Zlatopol’skii, Pis’ma Astron. Zh. 23(11), 863 (1997) [Astron. Lett. 23, 752 (1997)].
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
__________
Translated from Astronomicheski\(\overset{\lower0.5em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\smile}$}}{l} \) Zhurnal, Vol. 77, No. 1, 2000, pp. 64–73.
Original Russian Text Copyright © 2000 by Getling.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Getling, A.V. Hydrodynamic instabilities and photospheric structures. Astron. Rep. 44, 56–63 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1134/1.163827
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/1.163827