Introduction

MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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Topological Methods in
Fluid Dynamics
Gunnar Hornig
Topologische Fluiddynamik
Ruhr-Universitat-Bochum
IBZ, Februar 2002
Collaborators:
H. v. Bodecker, J. Kleimann , C. Mayer, E. Tassi, S.V. Titov
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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1. Introduction
Why are we interested in topological features of uids?
Topological properties do not depend on a (continuous/dierentiable) deformation
of the object.
Topological properties are an appropriate description for uids.
Topological properties are often very robust Changes of topological properties
are very violent.
But where and when topological properties change most often depends on non-
topological properties.
A topological description requires:
Characterisation of the topological properties
Description under which conditions they are conserved or destroyed
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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2. MHD HD
Hydrodynamics:

t
+ (v) = 0

t
v + v v = p + v = const., ( v = 0)
Navier-Stokes Eq. Equation for the vorticity w = v:

t
w(v w) =
_
1/p v
2
/2 + 1/v
_

t
w(v w) = 0
Conservation of vorticity (Kelvins Theorem)
: Approximation of large Reynolds Number: R
e
:= V
0
L
0
/ and isentropic ow
(p = p())
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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Magnetohydrodynamics:

t
+ (v) = 0

t
v + v v = p +J B
E+v B = J + other terms ()
E+
t
B = 0
B = 0
B = J
Ohms law () Induction equation:

t
B(v B) = (J + other terms)

t
B(v B) = 0
Conservation of magnetic ux (Alfvenss Theorem)
: Approximation of large magnetic Reynolds Number: R
M
:= V
0
L
0
/
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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3. Topological Conservation Laws
3.1. Flux conservation

t
B(v B) = 0

_
C
2
(t)
B da = const. for a comoving surface C
2
,
Conservation of ux
Conservation of eld lines
Conservation of null points
Conservation of knots and linkages of eld lines
Transport of elds (
k
) in the ow v(x, t) implies the conservation of an integral
over a k-dimensional comoving volume C
k
.

k
+ L
v

k
= 0

_
F(C
k
)

k
= const.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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3.2. For physical space (IR
3
):

+ L
v

= 0
t
+v = 0
(F(x, t), t) = const.
Example: decribes the color in a mixture of paints

1
A
+ L
v

1
A
= 0
t
A+(vA) v A = 0

_
C
1
(t)
Adl = const.
Example: A =

2
B
+ L
v

2
B
= 0
t
B+vBBv +B v = 0

_
C
2
(t)
B da = const. ,
Example: B vorticity in hydrodynamics (Kelvins Theorem)

+ L
v

3

= 0
t
+ (v ) = 0

_
C
3
(t)
d
3
x = const.
Example: mass-density in hydrodynamics
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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3.3. Conservation laws in space-time
L
V

0

= 0 V
t

t
+V = 0

_
C
0

= = const.
L
V

1
A
= 0
_

t
(V
t
A
t
) +VA
t
A
t
V = 0
V
t

t
A+(VA) VAA
t
V
t
= 0

_
C
1

1
A
=
_
C
1
A
t
dt
_
C
1
Adl = const.
L
V

2
AB
= 0
_

t
(V
t
A) +(VA) VA
t
VB = 0
V
t

t
B(VB) +V B+V
t
A = 0

_
C
2

2
AB
=
_
C
2
Bda
_
C
2
Adl dt = const.
L
V

3
A
= 0
_
V
t

t
A
t
+(VA
t
) AV
t
= 0

t
(V
t
A) (VA) +V AA
t

t
V = 0

_
C
3

3
A
=
_
C
3
A
t
dV
_
C
3
Ada dt = const.
L
V

4

= 0
t
(V
t
) +(V) = 0

_
C
4

=
_
C
4
dV
(4)
= const.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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3.4. Conservation in IR
n

+ L
V

0

= 0

s
+V = 0

_
C
0

= = const.
.
.
.
.
.
.

+ L
V

n

= 0

s
+(V) = 0

_
C
n

=
_
C
n
dV
(n)
= const.
Example: V Hamilton ow on IR
(2m)
,
(2k)
= dq
1
dp
1
... dq
k
dp
k
yields
Poincare integral invariants
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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4. Structure of magnetic elds
Long range forces:
Gravitation
Electromagnetism
Electric elds (shielded)
Magnetic elds
Magnetic elds are found in many astrophysical objects:
planets, stars, white dwarfs, pulsars, interstellar clouds, galaxy, intergalactic eld
Are these all dipolar elds?
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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The magnetic eld of the Earths core according to a numerical simulation by G.
Glazmeier.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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X-ray image of the Sun, Yohkoh satellite
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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Even simple magnetic congurations contain linked and knotted eld lines.
A eld line forming a simple
torus-knot.
A eld line linking the central
eld line of the torus.
Can we quantify the knottedness or linkage of ux in a magnetic eld?
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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5. Helicity
5.1. Total Helicity
The (total) magnetic helicity is dened as
H(B) :=
_
V
A B
. .
hel. density
d
3
x for B n|
V
= 0 ,
where A is the vector potential for the magnetic eld B, which is tangent to the
boundary V .
In terms of the magnetic eld only:
H(B) =
1
4
_ _
B(x

)
x x

|x x

|
3
B(x) d
3
x

d
3
x
which shows that the helicity is of 2nd order in the magnetic eld.
The total helicity measures the mutual
linkage of ux in the volume.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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5.2. Cross Helicity
The helicity integral can be considered as a special case of the mutual or cross
helicity integral:
H(B
1
, B
2
) :=
_
V
A
1
B
2
d
3
x =
_
V
A
2
B
1
d
3
x for B
1
n|
V
= B
2
n|
V
= 0
For B = B
1
+B
2
we have the relation
H(B
1
+B
2
)
. .
total helicty
= H(B
1
) + H(B
2
)
. .
self helicity of comp.
+2 H(B
1
, B
2
)
. .
cross helicity
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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5.3. Evolution of helicity
The homogeneous Maxwells equations yield a balance equation for the helicity
density:

t
A B
. .
hel. density
+ (B+EA
. .
hel. current
) = 2 E B
. .
hel. source
Remarks:
There is no freedom to add certain terms either to the current or to the source
since the covariant formulation uniquely determines the helicity current.
The helicity density and the helicity current are not gauge invariant, but the
source term is gauge invariant.
Integrating over a volume yields an expression for the evolution of the total helicity
d
dt
_
V
A B d
3
x = 2
_
V
E B d
3
x ,
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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5.4. Topology and free energy of a magnetic eld
Energy of a magnetic eld:
E
m
(B) :=
1
8
_
B
2
d
3
x
Free energy of a magnetic eld:
E
F
:= E
m
(B) E
m
(B
0
)
where B
0
is the vacuum eld satisfying the same boundary conditions.
Minimum free energy of a magnetic eld:
min(E
F
) := E
m
(B

) E
m
(B
0
)
where B

is the lowest energy state accessible from B by an ideal relaxation.

Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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Every kind of linkage or knottedness contributes to a lower bound for the free
energy of a magnetic eld. E.g. the total magnetic helicity yields the inequality
E
F
min(E
F
(B)) C H(B)
([Arnold 1986], [Freedman 1988], [Freedman & He 1991a], [Freedman & He 1991b],
[Berger 1993])
There is a need for higher order invariants and new energy limits which measure
more complex linkage or knottedness.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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6. Non-ideal evolution

t
B(v B) = N (1)
N : Non-ideal term, e.g. N = J
If B N = 0 we can rewrite (1)

t
B(wB) = 0
with w := v v = v
BN
B
2
Existence of a smooth w slippage solution (See example of J. Kleimann)
Existence of a smooth w with exception of points where B = 0 but N = 0
Reconnection-like processes
B has a X-line classical (2d) reconnection
B has a 3d null point null-point reconnection ?
B N = 0 no w exists.
Localized N 3d reconnection
N = 0 globally global dissipation (very slow for astrophysical plas-
mas)
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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A simple reconnection process
Movie
An evolution of eld lines integrated from two cross-sections (black) comoving
with the uid is shown. The cross-section are located outside the non-ideal
region (N = 0 only in a neighborhood of the z-axis) and initially belong to
the same magnetic ux tube.
The ux tube is transported with velocity w, which outside the non-ideal
region coincides with the plasma velocity v.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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The reconnection occurs along a line, the reconnection line. This is the line
along which the virtual transport velocity w is singular (here the z-axis of
the box).
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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6.1. 3-D Reconnection
B = 0 No ux conserving ow w exists!
Movie
An evolution of eld lines integrated from two cross-sections (black) comoving
with the uid is shown. The cross-section are located outside the non-ideal
region (N = 0 only in a neighborhood of the z-axis) and initially belong to
the same magnetic ux tube.
There exists no transport velocity w as in the 2-d case. Thus the ux tube
splits as soon as it enters the non-ideal region. The strands of the ux tube ip
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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around each other and nally merge again. Note that there exist a covariant
formulation where this type of reconnection is dened by a singularity of a
4-vector ow W
4
analogously to the singularity of the 3-velocity w in 2-d
reconnection.
The nal result are two ux tubes which have non-vanishing twist (not shown
in the gure) and non-vanishing total helicity although the initial ux tube
had zero total helicity. 3-d reconnection in general produces helicity.
How much helicity is created in 3-d reconnection?
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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7. Helicity conservation
7.1. General considerations
For a non-ideal evolution E + v B = N the change of the total helicity in a
magnetically closed volume is given by
d
dt
_
V
A B d
3
x = 2
_
V
N B d
3
x,
if N vanishes on the boundary. The total helicity is strictly conserved for ideal
MHD or more general for N B = 0, e.g. in case of 2-d reconnection.
The total helicity is approximately conserved on the time scale of energy dissipation
for a resistive plasma [Berger 1984].

H
H

_
t

d
with
d
= L
2
/ and L =

A
B

A B
B
2

If t
d
then H/H 1.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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7.2. Production of helicity in reconnection
Astrophysical plasmas dier from many technical plasmas in the size of the regions
V
diss
, where the dissipation dominates the evolution compared to the volume V of
magnetic ux connected to V
diss
.
Especially d L for astrophysical plasnas, where d is the diameter of V
diss
and L
of V .

hel
=

_
V
A B d
3
x
_
V
E Bd
3
x

B V L
E V
rec
with L =

A
B

diss
=

_
V
B
2
/(8)d
3
x
_
V
E Jd
3
x

B V d
E V
diss
with d =

B
J

V
diss

hel

diss

L
d
1
In plasmas with high magnetic Reynolds numbers the helicity production in a single
reconnection event is small compared to the potential helicity of the eld(e.g. a
corresponding constant- force-free eld ([Hornig 1999]).
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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How is the helicity created which we observe on the solar surface ?
A principal method:

An initially untwisted ux tube with vanishing total helicity is twisted and ...

...reconnected into two ux tubes with negative and positive total helicity.
Reconnection does not produce helicity but separates helicity!
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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7.3. Creation of helicity in the Sun
In the interior of the sun, the equator rotates faster than the poles. Dierential
rotation provides a strong source of helicity injection (from [Berger 2000]).
Helicity Transfer into the sun from magnetogram and solar rotation data Helicity
transfer into the southern interior (predominantly positive curve)and northern inte-
rior (predominantly negative curve). The units are 1040 Mx2 /day. The dierences
in magnitude between the two curves go up to 5 x 1042 Mx2 /day
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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8. Summary
Astrophysical magnetic elds often have a complex topological structure.
Topological invariants are important in the dynamics of uids, e.g. the mag-
netic helicity is a better invariant then magnetic energy.
Thus we need:
A better description of the complexity of eld structures, i.e. higher order
topological invariants.
C. Mayer, H.v. Bodecker
Additional knowledge where and under which condition the topological struc-
ture of elds changes, i.e. about reconnection and related processes.
S.V. Titov, E. Tassi, J. Kleimann
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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References
[Arnold 1986] Arnold, V.I., 1986,The asymptotic Hopf invariant and its applica-
tion, Sel. Math. Sov., 5, 327
[Berger 1996] Berger, M.A.,1996 Inverse cascades in a periodic domain , Astro-
physical Letters & Communications, 34, 225 (1996).
[Berger 1984] Berger, M.A., 1984, Rigorous new limits on magnetic helicity dissi-
pation in the solar corona, Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dynamics, 30, 79
[Berger 2000] Berger, M.A., Ruzmaikin, A.,Rate of helicity production by solar
rotation, J. Geophysical Research 105, 10481-10490 (2000)
[Hornig & Rastatter, 1997] Hornig, G., and L. Rastatter, The role of Helicity in
the Reconnection Process, Adv. Space Res. 19, 1789, 1997a.
[Hornig 2000] Hornig, G., The Geometry of Reconnection, in An Introduction to
the Geometry and Topology of Fluid Flows, Kluwer 2001 http://www.tp4.ruhr-
uni-bochum.de/gh/publiste/gtf.ps.gz.
[Hornig 1999] Hornig, G., 1999. In: Brown, M.R., Caneld, R.C., Pevtsov,
A.A.(eds.), Helicity in Space and Laboratory Plasmas, Geophysical Monographs,
AGU, 157
[Freedman 1988] Freedman, M.H., 1988, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 194, 549
[Freedman & He 1991a] Freedman, M.H., He, Z-X., 1991, Topology, 30, 283
[Freedman & He 1991b] Freedman, M.H., He, Z-X., 1991, Annals of Mathematics,
134, 189
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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[Berger 1993] Berger, M.A., 1993, Physical Review Letters, 70, 705
[Moatt 1969] Moatt H K 1969,Journal of Fluid Mechanics 35 117
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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9. Appendix
9.1. Covariant helicity
The helicity density together with the helicity current form the helicity 4-vector
h

= (A B, B+EA)
and the balance equation reads

= F

or in dierential forms:
d(A F) = F F
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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9.2. Helicity in a periodic domain
A box IR
3
with periodic boundary conditions on all sides is topologically a 3-torus
and therefore dierent from any domain in IR
3
. Especially it allows for magnetic
elds which do not have a vector potential (see [Berger 1996]).
There are two ways to ensure the existence of a vector potential in such a domain:
Use a periodic A in your numerical integration and derive B from A or ...
Make sure that the magnetic ux through every side of the box vanishes.
An example of what can happen in a periodic domain: Consider a magnetic eld
with a constant component in z-direction and an evolution of x-y components as
shown below (from [Berger 1996]).
The helicity of the eld changes its sign from a) to f)! Note that the reconnection
process involved can be chosen such that it produces an arbitrary small change of
helicity.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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9.3. Equivalence of boundary conditions
It is obvious that An|
V
= 0. can always be achieved by gauge transformations
if B = 0 outside of an arbitrary integration volume V . Under the less restrictive
assumption B n|
V
= 0, where V is a simply connected volume, this requirement
can still be fullled, as we will see now: Let us assume that A has a non-vanishing
component A tangential to the surface V . We can express A as a one-form
dened only on V . Then the assumption B n|
V
= ( A) n = 0 written
in dierential forms reads d = 0 on V . From V being simply connected it
follows that V has the same homotopy type as the two sphere S
2
, but since the
cohomology vector space H
1
(S
2
; IR) = 0, all closed one-forms are exact. Therefore
there exists a scalar function on V such that = d. This in turn implies that
a gauge exists such that A|
V
= 0 and thus An|
V
= 0
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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9.4. Time dependent gauge of the vector potential
We use a gauge
_


=
t

A

A = A+,
dened by
d
dt
= WA
such that

v

A = 0 .
Thus A is transported in the plasma ow v as a 1-form:

t
A+(vA) v A = 0
in terms of a Lie-derivative for the 1-form A

t
A + L
v
A = 0
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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9.5. Covariant description
If the eect of the non-ideal term N is limited to isolated regions, embedded
in an ideal environment (N = 0) then the non-ideal ow v can be mapped to
an ideal 4-velocity W
(4)
= (W
0
, W
1
, W
2
, W
3
)= (W
0
, W) satisfying

= 0

_

0
(W
0
E+WB) +(EW) = 0
W
0

0
B(WB) W
0
E = 0
L
W

2
F
= 0

_
C
F

dx

dx

= const. (2)
where F

is the electromagnetic eld tensor ([Hornig 2000].

Special solutions:
W
0
E+WB = 0
W/W
0
=
x
s
/
ct
s
= w
The 4-velocity W
4
vanishes at the reconnection line (w is singular in this
case) .
The covariant transport of the electromagnetic eld tensor generally does
not imply the conservation of magnetic ux. Exception: W
0
is constant or
E B = 0.
Introduction
MHD HD
Topological . . .
Structure of magnetic . . .
Helicity
Non-ideal evolution
Helicity conservation
Summary
Appendix


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9.6. Interpretation
For systems of (untwisted) ux tubes the to-
tal magnetic helicity can be expressed as a
sum over the mutual linking of ux tubes
[Moatt 1969]:
H(B) = 2

i<j
lk(T
i
, T
j
)
i

j
,
where lk(T
i
, T
j
) is the linking number of the
tube T
i
and T
j
with magnetic uxes
i
and

j
.
c)
This interpretation was generalized by [Arnold 1986] for the generic case where
eld lines are not closed using asymptotic linking numbers.
Note: Twist is a linkage of sub-ux tubes: