| Name: Ananthapadmanabhan KK |
| Affiliation: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram |
| Conference ID: ASI2026_116 |
| Title: Comparative Analysis of Solar Granulation Across Magnetic Regions |
| Abstract Type: Poster |
| Abstract Category: Sun, Solar System, Exoplanets, and Astrobiology |
| Author(s) and Co-Author(s) with Affiliation: Ananthapadmanabhan KK(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram - 695551, India), Nitin Yadav(Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi - 110016, India) |
| Abstract: Solar granulation, the surface manifestation of near-surface convection, is central to linking the solar
interior and atmosphere. We present a comparative study of photospheric granulation in Quiet Sun, Weak Plage,
and Strong Plage regions using high-resolution radiative magnetohydrodynamic simulations. Granules are iden-
tified as coherent upflows at optical depth unity, enabling consistent comparisons across magnetic environments.
We analyze granule sizes, shapes, thermodynamic and kinematic properties, fractal scaling, vorticity, and acoustic
energy flux. Our results show that the characteristic granulation scale (∼1–1.5 Mm) is insensitive to magnetic field
strength, set primarily by radiative cooling and stratification. Magnetic fields modulate convection by suppress-
ing horizontal expansion, shifting surface area from large to small granules, reducing contrasts, and narrowing
thermodynamic ranges. Turbulent scaling remains universal, with invariant fractal dimensions and perimeter–area
relations, though fragmentation occurs at smaller scales in stronger fields. Magnetized regions exhibit enhanced
intergranular vorticity and acoustic energy flux, indicating more efficient wave generation without increased damp-
ing. These findings reveal that magnetic fields reorganize granulation, channeling convective energy into stabilized,
acoustically active structures that strengthen the photosphere–atmosphere coupling. |
