Dynamo Theory

Author(s):  
Paul H. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
1998 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 406-414
Author(s):  
N. Seehafer

AbstractFilaments are a global phenomenon and their formation, structure and dynamics are determined by magnetic fields. So they are an important signature of the solar magnetism. The central mechanism in traditional mean-field dynamo theory is the alpha effect and it is a major result of this theory that the presence of kinetic or magnetic helicities is at least favourable for the effect. Recent studies of the magnetohydrodynamic equations by means of numerical bifurcation-analysis techniques have confirmed the decisive role of helicity for a dynamo effect. The alpha effect corresponds to the simultaneous generation of magnetic helicities in the mean field and in the fluctuations, the generation rates being equal in magnitude and opposite in sign. In the case of statistically stationary and homogeneous fluctuations, in particular, the alpha effect can increase the energy in the mean magnetic field only under the condition that also magnetic helicity is accumulated there. Generally, the two helicities generated by the alpha effect, that in the mean field and that in the fluctuations, have either to be dissipated in the generation region or to be transported out of this region. The latter may lead to the appearance of helicity in the atmosphere, in particular in filaments, and thus provide valuable information on dynamo processes inaccessible to in situ measurements.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S294) ◽  
pp. 325-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blakesley Burkhart ◽  
Alex Lazarian

AbstractMagnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is a critical component of the current paradigms of star formation, dynamo theory, particle transport, magnetic reconnection and evolution of the ISM. In order to gain understanding of how MHD turbulence regulates processes in the Galaxy, a confluence of numerics, observations and theory must be imployed. In these proceedings we review recent progress that has been made on the connections between theoretical, numerical, and observational understanding of MHD turbulence as it applies to both the neutral and ionized interstellar medium.


The westward drift of the non-dipole part of the earth’s magnetic field and of its secular variation is investigated for the period 1907-45 and the uncertainty of the results discussed. It is found that a real drift exists having an angular velocity which is independent of latitude. For the non-dipole field the rate of drift is 0.18 ± 0-015°/year, that for the secular variation is 0.32 ±0-067°/year. The results are confirmed by a study of harmonic analyses made between 1829 and 1945. The drift is explained as a consequence of the dynamo theory of the origin of the earth’s field. This theory required the outer part of the core to rotate less rapidly than the inner part. As a result of electromagnetic forces the solid mantle of the earth is coupled to the core as a whole, and the outer part of the core therefore travels westward relative to the mantle, carrying the minor features of the field with it.


Author(s):  
Andrew D. Gilbert
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usman Shazad ◽  
Shafa Ullah ◽  
M. Iqbal

Abstract The self-organization of a thermally relativistic magnetized plasma comprising of electrons, positrons and static ions is investigated. The self-organized state is found to be the superposition of three distinct Beltrami fields known as triple Beltrami (TB) state. In general, the eigenvalues associated with the multiscale self-organized vortices may be a pair of complex conjugate and real one. It is shown that all the eigenvalues become real when thermal energy increases or the positron density decreases. The impact of relativistic temperature and positron density on the formation of self-organized structures is investigated. The self-organized field and flow vortices may vary simultaneously on vastly different length scales. The disparate variation of self-organized vortices is important in the context of dynamo theory. The present work is useful to study the formation of multiscale vortices and dynamo mechanisms in multi-species thermally relativistic plasmas.


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