Papers by Adrian J Barker
APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting Abstracts, 2020
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
In close exoplanetary systems, tidal interactions drive orbital and spin evolution of planets and... more In close exoplanetary systems, tidal interactions drive orbital and spin evolution of planets and stars over long time-scales. Tidally forced inertial waves (restored by the Coriolis acceleration) in the convective envelopes of low-mass stars and giant gaseous planets contribute greatly to the tidal dissipation when they are excited and subsequently damped (e.g. through viscous friction), especially early in the life of a system. These waves are known to be subject to non-linear effects, including triggering differential rotation in the form of zonal flows. In this study, we use a realistic tidal body forcing to excite inertial waves through the residual action of the equilibrium tide in the momentum equation for the waves. By performing 3D non-linear hydrodynamical simulations in adiabatic and incompressible convective shells, we investigate how the addition of non-linear terms affects the tidal flow properties, and the energy and angular momentum redistribution. In particular, we ...
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2019
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Tidal dissipation is responsible for circularizing the orbits and synchronizing the spins of sola... more Tidal dissipation is responsible for circularizing the orbits and synchronizing the spins of solar-type close binary stars, but the mechanisms responsible are not fully understood. Previous work has indicated that significant enhancements to the theoretically predicted tidal dissipation rates are required to explain the observed circularization periods (P circ) in various stellar populations and their evolution with age. This was based partly on the common belief that the dominant mechanism of tidal dissipation in solar-type stars is turbulent viscosity acting on equilibrium tides in convective envelopes. In this paper, we study tidal dissipation in both convection and radiation zones of rotating solar-type stars following their evolution. We study equilibrium tide dissipation, incorporating a frequency-dependent effective viscosity motivated by the latest hydrodynamical simulations, and inertial wave (dynamical tide) dissipation, adopting a frequency-averaged formalism that account...
AAS/Division of Dynamical Astronomy Meeting, Aug 3, 2020
Turbulent convection is thought to act as an effective viscosity (ν E) in damping tidal flows in ... more Turbulent convection is thought to act as an effective viscosity (ν E) in damping tidal flows in stars and giant planets. However, the efficiency of this mechanism has long been debated, particularly in the regime of fast tides, when the tidal frequency (ω) exceeds the turnover frequency of the dominant convective eddies (ω c). We present the results of hydrodynamical simulations to study the interaction between tidal flows and convection in a small patch of a convection zone. These simulations build upon our prior work by simulating more turbulent convection in larger horizontal boxes, and here we explore a wider range of parameters. We obtain several new results: 1) ν E is frequency-dependent, scaling as ω −0.5 when ω/ω c 1, and appears to attain its maximum constant value only for very small frequencies (ω/ω c 10 −2). This frequency-reduction for low frequency tidal forcing has never been observed previously. 2) The frequency-dependence of ν E appears to follow the same scaling as the frequency spectrum of the energy (or Reynolds stress) for low and intermediate frequencies. 3) For high frequencies (ω/ω c 1 − 5), ν E ∝ ω −2. 4) The energetically-dominant convective modes always appear to contribute the most to ν E , rather than the resonant eddies in a Kolmogorov cascade. These results have important implications for tidal dissipation in convection zones of stars and planets, and indicate that the classical tidal theory of the equilibrium tide in stars and giant planets should be revisited. We briefly touch upon the implications for planetary orbital decay around evolving stars.
We study thermal convection in a rotating fluid, with the ultimate goal of explaining the structu... more We study thermal convection in a rotating fluid, with the ultimate goal of explaining the structure of convection zones in rotating stars and planets. We first derive mixing-length theory for rapidly-rotating convection, arriving at the results of Stevenson (1979) via simple physical arguments. The theory predicts the properties of convection as a function of the imposed heat flux and rotation rate, independent of microscopic diffusivities. In particular, it predicts the mean temperature gradient; the rms velocity and temperature fluctuations; and the size of the eddies that dominate heat transport. We test all of these predictions with high resolution three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations. The results agree remarkably well with the theory across more than two orders of magnitude in rotation rate. For example, the temperature gradient is predicted to scale as the rotation rate to the 4/5th power at fixed flux, and the simulations yield 0.75 ± 0.06. We conclude that the mixing...
We perform idealised numerical simulations of magnetic buoyancy instabilities in three dimensions... more We perform idealised numerical simulations of magnetic buoyancy instabilities in three dimensions, solving the equations of compressible magnetohydrodynamics in a model of the solar tachocline. In particular, we study the effects of including a highly simplified model of magnetic flux pumping in an upper layer ("the convection zone") on magnetic buoyancy instabilities in a lower layer ("the upper parts of the radiative interior-including the tachocline"), to study these competing flux transport mechanisms at the base of the convection zone. The results of the inclusion of this effect in numerical simulations of the buoyancy instability of both a preconceived magnetic slab and of a shear-generated magnetic layer are presented. In the former, we find that if we are in the regime that the downward pumping velocity is comparable with the Alfvén speed of the magnetic layer, magnetic flux pumping is able to hold back the bulk of the magnetic field, with only small pockets of strong field able to rise into the upper layer. In simulations in which the magnetic layer is generated by shear, we find that the shear velocity is not necessarily required to exceed that of the pumping (therefore the kinetic energy of the shear is not required to exceed that of the overlying convection), for strong localised pockets of magnetic field to be produced which can rise into the upper layer. This is because magnetic flux pumping acts to store the field below the interface, allowing it to be amplified both by the shear, and by vortical fluid motions, until pockets of field can achieve sufficient strength to rise into the upper layer. In addition, we find that the interface between the two layers is a natural location for the production of strong vertical gradients in the magnetic field. If these gradients are sufficiently strong to allow the development of magnetic buoyancy instabilities, strong shear is not necessarily required to drive them (c.f. previous work by Vasil & Brummell). We find that the addition of magnetic flux pumping appears to be able to assist shear-driven magnetic buoyancy in producing strong flux concentrations that can rise up into the convection zone from the radiative interior.
Abstract. Internal gravity waves are excited at the interface of convection and radiation zones o... more Abstract. Internal gravity waves are excited at the interface of convection and radiation zones of a solar-type star, by the tidal forcing of a short-period planet. The fate of these waves as they approach the centre of the star depends on their amplitude. We discuss the results of numerical simulations of these waves approaching the centre of a star, and the resulting evolution of the spin of the central regions of the star and the orbit of the planet. If the waves break, we find efficient tidal dissipation, which is not present if the waves perfectly reflect from the centre. This highlights an important amplitude dependence of the (stellar) tidal quality factor Q′, which has implications for the survival of planets on short-period orbits around solar-type stars, with radiative cores.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2014
We perform one of the first studies into the non-linear evolution of tidally excited inertial wav... more We perform one of the first studies into the non-linear evolution of tidally excited inertial waves in a uniformly rotating fluid body, exploring a simplified model of the fluid envelope of a planet (or the convective envelope of a solar-type star) subject to the gravitational tidal perturbations of an orbiting companion. Our model contains a perfectly rigid spherical core, which is surrounded by an envelope of incompressible uniform density fluid. The corresponding linear problem was studied in previous papers which this work extends into the non-linear regime, at moderate Ekman numbers (the ratio of viscous to Coriolis accelerations). By performing highresolution numerical simulations, using a combination of pseudo-spectral and spectral element methods, we investigate the effects of non-linearities, which lead to time-dependence of the flow and the corresponding dissipation rate. Angular momentum is deposited non-uniformly, leading to the generation of significant differential rotation in the initially uniformly rotating fluid, i.e. the body does not evolve towards synchronism as a simple solid body rotator. This differential rotation modifies the properties of tidally excited inertial waves, changes the dissipative properties of the flow and eventually becomes unstable to a secondary shear instability provided that the Ekman number is sufficiently small. Our main result is that the inclusion of non-linearities eventually modifies the flow and the resulting dissipation from what linear calculations would predict, which has important implications for tidal dissipation in fluid bodies. We finally discuss some limitations of our simplified model, and propose avenues for future research to better understand the tidal evolution of rotating planets and stars.
The spin axis of a rotationally deformed planet is forced to precess about its orbital angular mo... more The spin axis of a rotationally deformed planet is forced to precess about its orbital angular momentum vector, due to the tidal gravity of its host star, if these directions are misaligned. This induces internal fluid motions inside the planet that are subject to a hydrodynamic instability. We study the turbulent damping of precessional fluid motions, as a result of this instability, in the simplest local computational model of a giant planet (or star), with and without a weak internal magnetic field. Our aim is to determine the outcome of this instability, and its importance in driving tidal evolution of the spin-orbit angle in precessing planets (and stars). We find that this instability produces turbulent dissipation that is sufficiently strong that it could drive significant tidal evolution of the spin-orbit angle for hot Jupiters with orbital periods shorter than about 10-18 days. If this mechanism acts in isolation, this evolution would be towards alignment or anti-alignment,...
I present results from the first global hydrodynamical simulations of the elliptical instability ... more I present results from the first global hydrodynamical simulations of the elliptical instability in a tidally deformed gaseous planet (or star) with a free surface. The elliptical instability is potentially important for tidal evolution of the shortest-period hot Jupiters. I model the planet as a spin-orbit aligned or anti-aligned, and non-synchronously rotating, tidally deformed, homogeneous fluid body. A companion paper presented an analysis of the global modes and instabilities of such a planet. Here I focus on the nonlinear evolution of the elliptical instability. This is observed to produce bursts of turbulence that drive the planet towards synchronism with its orbit in an erratic manner. If the planetary spin is initially anti-aligned, the elliptical instability also drives spin-orbit alignment on a similar timescale as the spin synchronisation. The instability generates differential rotation inside the planet in the form of zonal flows, which play an important role in the sat...
The WASP-18 system, with its massive and extremely close-in planet, WASP-18b (M_p = 10.3M_J, a = ... more The WASP-18 system, with its massive and extremely close-in planet, WASP-18b (M_p = 10.3M_J, a = 0.02 AU, P = 22.6 hours), is one of the best known exoplanet laboratories to directly measure Q', the modified tidal quality factor and proxy for efficiency of tidal dissipation, of the host star. Previous analysis predicted a rapid orbital decay of the planet toward its host star that should be measurable on the time scale of a few years, if the star is as dissipative as is inferred from the circularization of close-in solar-type binary stars. We have compiled published transit and secondary eclipse timing (as observed by WASP, TRAPPIST, and Spitzer) with more recent unpublished light curves (as observed by TRAPPIST and HST) with coverage spanning nine years. We find no signature of a rapid decay. We conclude that the absence of rapid orbital decay most likely derives from Q' being larger than was inferred from solar-type stars, and find that Q' ≥ 1×10^6, at 95 % confidence;...
We explore the linear stability of astrophysical discs exhibiting vertical shear, which arises wh... more We explore the linear stability of astrophysical discs exhibiting vertical shear, which arises when there is a radial variation in the temperature or entropy. Such discs are subject to a "vertical-shear instability", which recent nonlinear simulations have shown to drive hydrodynamic activity in the MRI-stable regions of protoplanetary discs. We first revisit locally isothermal discs using the quasi-global reduced model derived by Nelson et al. (2013). This analysis is then extended to global axisymmetric perturbations in a cylindrical domain. We also derive and study a reduced model describing discs with power law radial entropy profiles ("locally polytropic discs"), which are somewhat more realistic in that they possess physical (as opposed to numerical) surfaces. In all cases the fastest growing modes have very short wavelengths and are localised at the disc surfaces (if present), where the vertical shear is maximal. An additional class of modestly growing ver...
We study thermal convection in a rotating fluid in order to better understand the properties of c... more We study thermal convection in a rotating fluid in order to better understand the properties of convection zones in rotating stars and planets. We first derive mixing-length theory for rapidly-rotating convection, arriving at the results of Stevenson (1979) via simple physical arguments. The theory predicts the properties of convection as a function of the imposed heat flux and rotation rate, independent of microscopic diffusivities. In particular, it predicts the mean temperature gradient; the rms velocity and temperature fluctuations; and the size of the eddies that dominate heat transport. We test all of these predictions with high resolution three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of Boussinesq convection in a Cartesian box. The results agree remarkably well with the theory across more than two orders of magnitude in rotation rate. For example, the temperature gradient is predicted to scale as the rotation rate to the 4/5th power at fixed flux, and the simulations yield 0.7...
We perform global two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of Keplerian discs with free eccentr... more We perform global two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of Keplerian discs with free eccentricity over thousands of orbital periods. Our aim is to determine the validity of secular theory in describing the evolution of eccentric discs, and to explore their nonlinear evolution for moderate eccentricities. Linear secular theory is found to correctly predict the structure and precession rates of discs with small eccentricities. However, discs with larger eccentricities (and eccentricity gradients) are observed to precess faster (retrograde relative to the orbital motion), at a rate that depends on their eccentricities (and eccentricity gradients). We derive analytically a nonlinear secular theory for eccentric gas discs, which explains this result as a modification of the pressure forces whenever eccentric orbits in a disc nearly intersect. This effect could be particularly important for highly eccentric discs produced in tidal disruption events, or for narrow gaseous rings; it mi...
We formulate a local dynamical model of an eccentric disc in which the dominant motion consists o... more We formulate a local dynamical model of an eccentric disc in which the dominant motion consists of elliptical Keplerian orbits. The model is a generalization of the well known shearing sheet, and is suitable for both analytical and computational studies of the local dynamics of eccentric discs. It is spatially homogeneous in the horizontal dimensions but has a time-dependent geometry that oscillates at the orbital frequency. We show how certain averages of the stress tensor in the local model determine the large-scale evolution of the shape and mass distribution of the disc. The simplest solutions of the local model are laminar flows consisting of a (generally nonlinear) vertical oscillation of the disc. Eccentric discs lack vertical hydrostatic equilibrium because of the variation of the vertical gravitational acceleration around the eccentric orbit, and in some cases because of the divergence of the orbital velocity field associated with an eccentricity gradient. We discuss the pr...
We study the fate of internal gravity waves approaching the centre of an initially non-rotating s... more We study the fate of internal gravity waves approaching the centre of an initially non-rotating solar-type star, primarily using two-dimensional numerical simulations based on a cylindrical model. A train of internal gravity waves is excited by tidal forcing at the interface between the convection and radiation zones of such a star. We derive a Boussinesq-type model of the central region of a star and find a nonlinear wave solution that is steady in the frame rotating with the angular pattern speed of the tidal forcing. We then use spectral methods to integrate the equations numerically, with the aim of studying at what amplitude the wave is subject to instabilities. These instabilities are found to lead to wave breaking whenever the amplitude exceeds a critical value. Below this critical value, the wave reflects perfectly from the centre of the star. Wave breaking leads to mean flow acceleration, which corresponds to a spin up of the central region of the star, and the formation of...
Eccentric Keplerian discs are believed to be unstable to three-dimensional hydro-dynamical instab... more Eccentric Keplerian discs are believed to be unstable to three-dimensional hydro-dynamical instabilities driven by the time-dependence of fluid properties around an orbit. These instabilities could lead to small-scale turbulence, and ultimately modify the global disc properties. We use a local model of an eccentric disc, derived in a companion paper, to compute the nonlinear vertical (“breathing mode”) oscillations of the disc. We then analyse their linear stability to locally axisymmetric disturbances for any disc eccentricity and eccentricity gradient using a numerical Floquet method. In the limit of small departures from a circular reference orbit, the instability of an isothermal disc is explained analytically. We also study analytically the small-scale instability of an eccentric neutrally stratified polytropic disc with any polytropic in-dex using a WKB approximation. We find that eccentric discs are generically unstable to the parametric excitation of small-scale inertial wav...
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2020
Recent observations of Jupiter and Saturn suggest that heavy elements may be diluted in the gaseo... more Recent observations of Jupiter and Saturn suggest that heavy elements may be diluted in the gaseous envelope, providing a compositional gradient that could stabilize ordinary convection and produce a stably stratified layer near the core of these planets. This region could consist of semiconvective layers with a staircase-like density profile, which have multiple convective zones separated by thin stably stratified interfaces, as a result of double-diffusive convection. These layers could have important effects on wave propagation and tidal dissipation that have not been fully explored. We analyse the effects of these layers on the propagation and transmission of internal waves within giant planets, extending prior work in a local Cartesian model. We adopt a simplified global Boussinesq planetary model in which we explore the internal waves in a non-rotating spherical body. We begin by studying the free modes of a region containing semiconvective layers. We then analyse the transmis...
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Papers by Adrian J Barker