Rotational dependence of turbulent transport coefficients in global convective dynamo simulations of solar-like stars

Context. For moderate and slow rotation, the magnetic activity of solar-like stars is observed to strongly depend on rotation, while for rapid rotation, only a very weak or no dependency is detected. These observations do not yet have a solid explanation in terms of dynamo theory. Aims. We aim to find such an explanation by numerically investigating the rotational dependency of dynamo drivers in solar-like stars, that is, stars that have a convective envelope of similar thickness to that of the Sun. Methods. We ran semi-global convection simulations of stars with rotation rates from 0 to 30 times the solar value, corresponding to Coriolis numbers, Co, of 0 to 110. We measured the turbulent transport coefficients contributing to the magnetic field evolution with the help of the test-field method, and compared with the dynamo effect arising from the differential rotation that is self-consistently generated in the models. Results. The trace of the alpha tensor increases for moderate rotation rates with Co-0.5 and levels off for rapid rotation. This behavior is in agreement with the kinetic alpha based on the kinetic helicity, if one takes into account the decrease of the convective scale with increasing rotation. The alpha tensor becomes highly anisotropic for Co greater than or similar to 1. Furthermore, alpha(rr) dominates for moderate rotation (1< Co< 10), and alpha(phi) for rapid rotation (Co greater than or similar to 10). The effective meridional flow, taking into account the turbulent pumping effects, is markedly different from the actual meridional circulation profile. Hence, the turbulent pumping effect is dominating the meridional transport of the magnetic field. Taking all dynamo effects into account, we find three distinct regimes. For slow rotation, the alpha and Radler effects are dominating in the presence of anti-solar differential rotation. For moderate rotation, alpha and Omega effects are dominant, indicative of alpha Omega or alpha(2)Omega dynamos in operation, producing equatorward-migrating dynamo waves with a qualitatively solar-like rotation profile. For rapid rotation, an alpha(2) mechanism with an influence from the Radler effect appears to be the most probable driver of the dynamo. Conclusions. Our study reveals the presence of a large variety of dynamo effects beyond the classical alpha Omega mechanism, which need to be investigated further to fully understand the dynamos of solar-like stars. The highly anisotropic alpha tensor might be the primary reason for the change of axisymmetric to non-axisymmetric dynamo solutions in the moderate rotation regime.