On the connection between mean field dynamo theory and flux tubes

Abstract

Mean field dynamo theory deals with various mean quantities and does not directly throw any light on the question of existence of flux tubes. We can, however, draw important conclusions about flux tubes in the interior of the Sun by combining additional arguments with the insights gained from solar dynamo solutions. The polar magnetic field of the Sun is of order 10 G, whereas the toroidal magnetic field at the bottom of the convection zone has been estimated to be 100000 G. Simple order-of-magnitude estimates show that the shear in the tachocline is not sufficient to stretch a 10 G mean radial field into a 100000 G mean toroidal field. We argue that the polar field of the Sun must get concentrated into intermittent flux tubes before it is advected to the tachocline. We estimate the strengths and filling factors of these flux tubes. Stretching by shear in the tachocline is then expected to produce a highly intermittent magnetic configuration at the bottom of the convection zone. The meridional flow at the bottom of the convection zone should be able to carry this intermittent magnetic field equatorward, as suggested recently by Nandy and Choudhuri (2002). When a flux tube from the bottom of the convection zone rises to a region of pre-existing poloidal field at the surface, we point out that it picks up a twist in accordance with the observations of current helicities at the solar surface.