The Dynamical Sun

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-78945-261-7
Verlag: John Wiley & Sons

Buch, Englisch, 608 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 1025 g

The Dynamical Sun focuses on the Sun, from its deep interior, through its surface dynamics to its extended atmosphere, and the wind that forms the heliosphere. For each solar layer, intuitive derivations will help the reader gain a good understanding of the physical mechanisms involved, which are driving the observed multi-faceted solar dynamics.

This book presents the latest theoretical and observational developments regarding the modern view of our star, its magnetism and intense time variables, and eruptive activity. Key topics are covered, such as dynamo, the origin of solar eleven year cyclic magnetic activity, flux emergence, flares, CMEs, the dynamics of the photosphere, chromosphere, corona and solar wind. The relationship between solar wind braking and rotational history in a Sun-in-time approach will also be presented, along with the Sun–Earth system and its operational applications in space weather. Finally, the Sun-as-a-star will be studied and compared to other solar-type stars.

Fifty exercises are included and will help the reader to understand this amazing yet complex solar magnetohydrodynamics topic.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Brun, Allan Sacha

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface xi
Allan Sacha BRUN

Acknowledgments xv
Note to the Readers xvii

Chapter 1. Internal Structure and Fundamental Properties of the Sun 1
Allan Sacha BRUN

1.1. Reader digest of solar basic properties 1
1.2. Main stellar equilibria and time scales 6
1.3. Solar internal structure 11
1.4. Solar properties evolution 42
1.5. Basics of helioseismology 45
1.6. Chemical abundances 63
1.7. Go beyond: non-classical secular stellar evolution 66
1.8. Exercises 70
1.9. References 73

Chapter 2. Magnetohydrodynamics of the Solar Interior 81
Allan Sacha BRUN, Antoine STRUGAREK and Nadège MEUNIER

2.1. Dynamics of the solar interior and surface 81
2.2. Magnetohydrodynamics equations 96
2.3. Dynamo action 124
2.4. Forecasting solar 11-year cycles 175
2.5. Go beyond: convective conundrum 181
2.6. Exercises 184
2.7. References 187

Chapter 3. Solar Surface Activity and Magnetic Flux Emergence 205
Allan Sacha BRUN and Nadège MEUNIER

3.1. Flux emergence and removal phenomena and their observational signatures 206
3.2. General overview of active regions 213
3.3. Flux emergence observations 220
3.4. Flux emergence simulations 226
3.5. From active regions to the quiet Sun 242
3.6. Solar surface dynamics simulations 244
3.7. Go beyond: coupled dynamo and flux emergence: spotless dynamo paradox 249
3.8. Exercises 250
3.9. References 253

Chapter 4. Solar Eruptive Events and Lower Atmosphere Dynamics 261
Miho JANVIER, Antoine STRUGAREK and Allan Sacha BRUN

4.1. The solar chromosphere 261
4.2. Magnetic field extrapolation 265
4.3. Magnetic reconnection 272
4.4. Solar flares 289
4.5. Go beyond: quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) in solar flares 303
4.6. Exercises 306
4.7. References 308

Chapter 5. Properties and Dynamics of the Solar Corona, Wind and Heliosphere 317
Antoine STRUGAREK, Miho JANVIER, Allan Sacha BRUN and Barbara PERRI

5.1. The solar corona: basic properties 318
5.2. A dynamical out-flowing solar corona: the solar wind 330
5.3. Coronal mass ejections: description and dynamics 347
5.4. Shocks and contact discontinuities in the solar wind 360
5.5. Heliosphere 364
5.6. Go beyond: missing solar magnetic flux 372
5.7. Exercises 374
5.8. References 378

Chapter 6. Sun–Earth Relationships and Space Weather Operations 389
Barbara PERRI, Allan Sacha BRUN and Antoine STRUGAREK

6.1. A brief presentation of the Earth system 389
6.2. Magnetosphere 414
6.3. Interactions between an active Sun and its environment 421
6.4. Organizing space weather mitigation response 438
6.5. Go beyond: numerical forecasting of space weather 445
6.6. Exercises 447
6.7. References 450

Chapter 7. Wind Braking and its Link to Solar Rotational History and Gyrochronology 459
Antoine STRUGAREK and Allan Sacha BRUN

7.1. Astrophysical context 459
7.2. Rotational evolution of Sun-like stars 460
7.3. Computing the torque in the solar wind 465
7.4. Models for rotational evolution of solar-mass stars 469
7.5. Go beyond: break of gyrochronology 477
7.6. Exercises 479
7.7. References 481

Chapter 8. The Solar-Stellar Connection 487
Nadège MEUNIER, Allan Sacha BRUN, Antoine STRUGAREK and Barbara PERRI

8.1. Some basics of stellar physics: linking solar and stellar magnetism 487
8.2. Key observational techniques for stellar rotation and magnetism 494
8.3. Large-scale flows versus mass and rotation 507
8.4. Stellar cycles and dynamo action 516
8.5. Stellar flares, winds and astrospheres 531
8.6. Go beyond: spot versus faculae and average activity level 550
8.7. Exercises 552
8.8. References 554

Appendix 569
A.1. Main physical and astrophysical constants 569
A.2. Symbols and adimensional numbers definition 570
A.3. Adimensional numbers 571
A.4. Useful mathematical formula 572
A.5. Differential operator in spherical coordinates 573
A.6. Useful solar and space weather web links 575
A.7. Acronyms 576

List of Authors 581
Index 583

Über Autor(innen)

Allan Sacha Brun is an Astrophysicist, Director of Research at CEA-Paris-Saclay, France, and the founder of Laboratory LDE3. He is a world specialist of the Sun, stars, their impact on (exo)planets and in plasma physics, and high-performance computing.