B. Belucz

Role of asymmetric meridional circulation in producing north-south asymmetry in a solar cycle dynamo model

Solar cycles in the north and south hemispheres differ in cycle length, amplitude, profile, polar fields, and coronal structure. To show what role differences in meridional flow could play in producing these differences, we present the results of three sets of numerical simulations from a flux transport dynamo in which one property of meridional circulation has been changed in the south only. The changes are in amplitude and the presence of a second cell in latitude or in depth. An ascending phase speedup causes weakening of polar and toroidal fields; a speed decrease in a late descending phase does not change amplitudes. A long-duration speed increase leads to lower toroidal field peaks but unchanged polar field peaks. A second high-latitude circulation cell in an ascending phase weakens the next polar and toroidal field peaks, and the ascending phase is lengthened. A second cell in a late descending phase speeds up the cycle. A long-duration second cell leads to a poleward branch of the butterfly diagram and weaker polar fields. A second cell in depth reverses the tilt of the butterfly wing, decreasing polar fields when added during an ascending phase and increasing them during a late descending phase. A long-duration presence of a second cell in radius evolves the butterfly diagram far away from the observed one, with different dynamo periods in low and high latitudes. Thus, a second cell in depth is unlikely to persist more than a few years if the solar dynamo is advection-dominated. Our results show the importance of time variation and north-south asymmetry in meridional circulation in producing differing cycles in the north and south.

A BABCOCK–LEIGHTON SOLAR DYNAMO MODEL WITH MULTI-CELLULAR MERIDIONAL CIRCULATION IN ADVECTION- AND DIFFUSION-DOMINATED REGIMES

Babcock–Leighton type-solar dynamo models with single-celled meridional circulation are successful in reproducing many solar cycle features. Recent observations and theoretical models of meridional circulation do not indicate a single-celled flow pattern. We examine the role of complex multi-cellular circulation patterns in a Babcock–Leighton solar dynamo in advection- and diffusion-dominated regimes. We show from simulations that the presence of a weak, second, high-latitude reverse cell speeds up the cycle and slightly enhances the poleward branch in the butterfly diagram, whereas the presence of a second cell in depth reverses the tilt of the butterfly wing to an antisolar type. A butterfly diagram constructed from the middle of convection zone yields a solar-like pattern, but this may be difficult to realize in the Sun because of magnetic buoyancy effects. Each of the above cases behaves similarly in higher and lower magnetic diffusivity regimes. However, our dynamo with a meridional circulation containing four cells in latitude behaves distinctly differently in the two regimes, producing solar-like butterfly diagrams with fast cycles in the higher diffusivity regime, and complex branches in butterfly diagrams in the lower diffusivity regime. We also find that dynamo solutions for a four-celled pattern, two in radius and two in latitude, prefer to quickly relax to quadrupolar parity if the bottom flow speed is strong enough, of similar order of magnitude as the surface flow speed.

The light‐curve modulation of XY And and UZ Vir: two Blazhko RR Lyrae stars with additional frequencies

We present a thorough analysis of multicolour CCD observations of two modulated RRab-type variables, XY And and UZ Vir. These Blazhko stars show relatively simple light-curve modu- lation with the usual multiplet structures in their Fourier spectra. One additional, independent frequency with linear-combination terms of the pulsation frequency is also detected in the residual spectrum of each of the two stars. The amplitude and phase relations of the triplet components are studied in detail. Most of the epoch-independent phase differences show a slight, systematic colour dependence. However, these trends have opposite signs in the two stars. The mean values of the global physical parameters and their changes with the Blazhko phase are determined, utilizing the inverse photometric method (IPM). The modulation prop- erties and the IPM results are compared for the two variables. The pulsation period of XY And is the shortest when its pulsation amplitude is the highest, while UZ Vir has the longest pulsation period at this phase of the modulation. Despite this contrasting behaviour, the phase relations of the variations in their mean physical parameters are similar. These results do not agree with the predictions of the Blazhko model of Stothers.

Four-colour photometry of EY Dra: A study of an ultra-fast rotating active dM1-2e star

We present more than 1000-day long photometry of EY Draconis in BV (RI)C passbands. The changes in the light curve are caused by the spottedness of the rotating surface. Modelling of the spotted surface shows that there are two large active regions present on the star on the opposite hemispheres. The evolution of the surface patterns suggests a flip-flop phenomenon. Using Fourier analysis, we detect a rotation period of Prot = 0.45875 d, and an activity cycle with P ≈ 350 d, similar to the 11-year long cycle of the Sun. This cycle with its year-long period is the shortest one ever detected on active stars. Two bright flares are also detected and analysed (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The Blazhko modulation of TV Boo in 2010

We present the analysis of the multicolour CCD observations in the 2010 season of the Blazhko RRc star TV Boo. TV Boo shows a complex Blazhko modulation dominated by two independent modulations with Pfm1 = 9.74 d and Pfm2 = 21.43 d long periods. Both modulation components appear in the frequency spectra as multiplet structures around the harmonics of the pulsation. The positive value of the asymmetry parameter (Q = +0.51) of the primary modulation suggests that it is similar in its character to the Blazhko-e ffect of most of the modulated RRab stars. Interestingly, the secondary, lower-amplitude modulation exhibits a negative asymmetry parameter (Q = 0.22), which is an unusually low value when compared to the Blazhko-modulated RRab stars. Apart from the two modulation frequencies, the spectra ´