ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ
ΤΜΗΜΑ ΦΥΣΙΚΗΣ
Πανεπιστημιούπολη Ζωγράφου

ΣΕΜΙΝΑΡΙΟ ΤΜΗΜΑΤΟΣ ΦΥΣΙΚΗΣ
Πέμπτη 25 Οκτωβρίου 2007, 12:00
Κτίριο Φυσικής, Αίθουσα Συνελεύσεων Τμήματος

MHD turbulence in astrophysics
Αλέξης Αλεξάκης
Laboratoire Cassiopée, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Nice, France

Turbulent flows coupled with magnetic fields are met very often in astrophysics in a large variety of scales ranging from the intergalactic and interstellar medium, accretion discs and jets, solar wind, to the interior of stars and planets. This magnetic turbulence plays a dynamical role in the evolution of the involved astronomical objects and theoretical understanding is needed in order to have even simple order of magnitude estimates of the resulting time scales. I will present an introduction of the problem of Magneto-hydro-dynamic turbulence and its relevance to many astrophysical problems. I will focus on the differences with Hydrodynamic turbulence and present the basic open questions in the field. Recent progress in theoretical understanding and some numerical results are going to be presented.