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Abstract

Vortex flows, related to solar convective turbulent dynamics at granular
scales and their interplay with magnetic fields within
intergranular lanes, occur abundantly on the solar surface and
in the atmosphere above. Their presence is revealed in high-
resolution and high-cadence solar observations from the ground
and from space and with state-of-the-art magnetoconvection
simulations. Vortical flows exhibit complex characteristics and
dynamics, excite a wide range of different waves, and couple
different layers of the solar atmosphere, which facilitates the
channeling and transfer of mass, momentum and energy from the
solar surface up to the low corona. Here we provide a
comprehensive review of documented research and new developments
in theory, observations, and modelling of vortices over the past
couple of decades after their observational discovery, including
recent observations in H{\ensuremath{\alpha}} , innovative
detection techniques, diverse hydrostatic modelling of waves and
forefront magnetohydrodynamic simulations incorporating effects
of a non-ideal plasma. It is the first systematic overview of
solar vortex flows at granular scales, a field with a plethora
of names for phenomena that exhibit similarities and differences
and often interconnect and rely on the same physics. With the
advent of the 4-m Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope and the
forthcoming European Solar Telescope, the ongoing Solar Orbiter
mission, and the development of cutting-edge simulations, this
review timely addresses the state-of-the-art on vortex flows and
outlines both theoretical and observational future research
directions.