PROF. NISHANT SINGH

Recent observations of magnetic activity of various stars compel us to revisit the problem of origin of magnetic fields in these objects, where the Sun is viewed as just another star among many. Popular paradigms are thus challenged, and attempts are being made to come up with a unified scheme which can explain the origin of global magnetic fields in a variety of stars. After discussing some of the outstanding issues in this regard, the speaker will present some latest findings on the self-consistent formation of magnetic spots in simulations of turbulent magneto-convection. He will also sketch a key mechanism which might lead to the sunspots, which still lack a clear explanation. Moreover, the Sun supports a wide variety of waves that carry useful information about the inhomogeneous solar structure. Magnetic induced perturbations on the seismic modes, and their implications for the space weather, will also be discussed.