Note on the scalar dynamo model

Abstract

Bayly (1993) introduced and investigated the equation (? _t + v·▽-η ▽²)S = RS as a scalar analogue of the magnetic induction equation. Here, S(r, t) is a scalar function and the flow field v(r, t) and “stretching” function R(r, t) are given independently. This equation is much easier to handle than the corresponding vector equation and, although not of much relevance to the (vector) kinematic dynamo problem, it helps to study some features of the fast dynamo problem. In this note the scalar equation is considered for linear flow and a harmonic potential as stretching function. The steady equation separates into one-dimensional equations, which can be completely solved and therefore allow one to monitor the behaviour of the spectrum in the limit of vanishing diffusivity. For more general homogeneous flows a scaling argument is given which ensures fast dynamo action for certain powers of the harmonic potential. Our results stress the singular behaviour of eigenfunctions in the limit of vanishing diffusivity and the importance of stagnation points in the flow for fast dynamo action.     

Convection in a rotating,laterally heated annulus the wave number transitions

Abstract

The radial temperature differences at which the transitions from one wave number to the next occur have been measured with either increasing or decreasing positive radial temperature gradients, at five different rotation rates, with the fluid being always in thermal equilibrium and being in contact with an upper rigid lid. Hysteresis has been observed in all wave number transitions, and also in the transition to upper symmetry. There are, nevertheless, regions in the stability diagram where the wave number is unique. There is an excluded region where the wave number four cannot be obtained through quasi-steady procedure. There is a reversal of the sense of the hysteresis of the transitions. At low ΔT, a wave number transition with increasing radial temperature difference occurs at a higher ΔT, than the same transition with decreasing temperature difference. On the other hand, at large values of ΔT, a wave number transition with increasing radial temperature difference occurs at a lower ΔT, than the same transition with decreasing temperature difference. Wave number transitions with increasing ΔT, occur spontaneously out of amplitude oscillations. Wave number transitions with decreasing ΔT, occur via slow wave splitting in association with phase modulations of the waves. The uniqueness of the wave number in the unique areas of the stability diagram has been confirmed by sudden start experiments.     

An antidynamo theorem for partly symmetric flows

Abstract

It is shown that magnetic fields generated by flows v _r,(r,t)e_r+v_T where v_T is an arbitrary toroidal component (e_r˙v_T≡V≡v_T≡0), cannot be maintained indefinitely against ohmic dissipation. The poloidal field variable max |r ² B _r| is shown to decay strictly monotonically with an undetermined decay rate. A bound on the growth of the toroidal field norm ∥T∥₁ is established solely dependent on the rate of conversion of poloidal to toroidal field, so that when the poloidal field is negligible then ∥T∥₁ decays strictly monotonically. The main application of these results is to models of stellar evolution based on axisymmetric differential rotation and spherically symmetric contraction. This symmetric velocity theorem overlaps with two already known theorems, namely the toroidal velocity theorem where v _r≡0 and the radial velocity theorem where v_T≡0. The new theorem does not entirely include the already established ones, principal differences being in the rates of decay and the field variables for which the decay is proven (see Table 1).     

Oscillatory large-scale dynamos from Cartesian convection simulations

We present results from compressible Cartesian convection simulations with and without imposed shear. In the former case the dynamo is expected to be of α² Ω type, which is generally expected to be relevant for the Sun, whereas the latter case refers to α² dynamos that are more likely to occur in more rapidly rotating stars whose differential rotation is small. We perform a parameter study where the shear flow and the rotational influence are varied to probe the relative importance of both types of dynamos. Oscillatory solutions are preferred both in the kinematic and saturated regimes when the negative ratio of shear to rotation rates, q?≡??S/Ω, is between 1.5 and 2, i.e. when shear and rotation are of comparable strengths. Other regions of oscillatory solutions are found with small values of q, i.e. when shear is weak in comparison to rotation, and in the regime of large negative qs, when shear is very strong in comparison to rotation. However, exceptions to these rules also appear so that for a given ratio of shear to rotation, solutions are non-oscillatory for small and large shear, but oscillatory in the intermediate range. Changing the boundary conditions from vertical field to perfect conductor ones changes the dynamo mode from oscillatory to quasi-steady. Furthermore, in many cases an oscillatory solution exists only in the kinematic regime whereas in the nonlinear stage the mean fields are stationary. However, the cases with rotation and no shear are always oscillatory in the parameter range studied here and the dynamo mode does not depend on the magnetic boundary conditions. The strengths of total and large-scale components of the magnetic field in the saturated state, however, are sensitive to the chosen boundary conditions.     

On the onset of thermal convection in slowly rotating fluid shells

Abstract

The problem of the removal of the degeneracy of the patterns of convective motion in a spherically symmetric fluid shell by the effects of rotation is considered. It is shown that the axisymmetric solution is preferred in sufficiently thick shells where the minimum Rayleigh number corresponds to degree l = 1 of the spherical harmonics. In all cases with l > 1 the solution described by sectional spherical harmonics Y^l _l (θ,φ) is preferred.     

Kinematic stationary geodynamo models with separated toroidal and poloidal motions

Abstract

This paper is concerned with a three-dimensional spherical model of a stationary dynamo that consists of a convective layer with a simple poloidal flow of the S^2c ₂ kind between a rotating inner body core and solid outer shell. The rotation of the inner core and the outer shell means that there are regions of concentrated shear or differential rotation at the convective layer boundaries. The induction equation for the inside of the convective layer was solved numerically by the Bullard-Gellman method, the eigenvalue of the problem being the magnetic Reynolds number of the poloidal flow (R _M2) and it was assumed that the magnetic Reynolds number of the core (R _M1) and of the shell (R _M3) were prescribed parameters. Hence R _M2 was studied as a function of R _M1 and R _M3, along with the orientation of the rotation axis, the radial dependence of the poloidal velocity and the relative thickness of the layers for the three different situations, (i) the core alone rotating, (ii) the shell alone rotating and (iii) the core and the shell rotating together. In all three cases it was found that, at definite orientations of the rotation axis, there is a good convergence of both the eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions of the problem as the number of spherical harmonics used to represent the problem increases. For R _M1 =R _M3= 10³, corresponding to the westward drift velocity and the parameters of the Earth's core, the critical values of R _M2 are found to be three orders of magnitude lower than R _M1, R _M3 so that the poloidal flow velocity sufficient for maintaining the dynamo process is 10-20 m/yr. With only the core or the shell rotating, the velocity field generally differs little from the axially symmetric case. However, for R _M2 (or R _M3) lying in the range 10² to 10⁵, the self-excitation condition is found to be of the form R _M2˙R ^½ _M1=constant (or R _M2˙R^½ _M3=constant) and the solution does not possess the properties of the Braginsky near-axisymmetric dynamo. We should expect this, in particular, in the Braginsky limit R _M2˙R^?½; _M1=constant.

An analysis of known three-dimensional dynamo models indicates the importance of the absence of mirror symmetry planes for the efficient generation of magnetic fields.     

Stellar Dynamo Waves: Asymptotic Configurations

We investigate the parameter space of a Parker dynamo with a simple alpha quenching nonlinearity, taking as governing parameters the dynamo number D (D<0) and the ratio of diffusion times in the radial and latitudinal directions in the convective zone. The latter parameter, μ, is connected with the aspect ratio (dimensionless thickness) of the convective zone. We isolate two asymptotic configuration of the dynamo waves excited by the Parker dynamo in the limiting case of strong generation. Apart from the standard case with the solar type dynamo wave travelling from mid-latitudes to the equator, we describe a form of dynamo activity which is basically an anharmonic standing wave. The first situation occurs when μ increases with |D|. With μ fixed and |D| increasing, the second asymptotic configuration occurs. We discuss possibilities of identifying these asymptotic configurations with various types of stellar activity as traced by stellar CaII data.     

On a dynamo driven topographically by longitudinal libration

Variation in the angular velocity Ω of a planetary body is called libration or longitudinal libration when the Ω-axis is fixed in direction. This motion of the body's solid mantle drives motions in its fluid core, either by viscous coupling across the core-mantle interface S, or topographically when S is asymmetric with respect to the Ω-axis, the only case considered in this article. A significant topographically-driven flow is identified having uniform vorticity within S and no component parallel to the Ω-axis. Its dynamic stability depends on the amplitude, Ω ₁, of the sinusoidally varying part of Ω and on the ratio, b/a, of the lengths of the principal axes of S, assumed spheroidal. In (Ω ₁/Ω ₀, b/a) parameter space where Ω ₀ is the average Ω, islands are shown to exist where the constant vorticity states are dynamically unstable. These are surrounded by a sea in which they are stable. When the fluid is slightly viscous, a state in the stable sea retains its uniform vorticity structure except in a viscous boundary layer on S in which the flow acquires a component parallel to the Ω-axis. For (Ω ₁/Ω ₀, b/a) on an island where the uniform vorticity state is unstable, an “alternative flow” exists, which is three-dimensional and is examined here. Assuming that the core is electrically conducting, kinematic dynamos are sought. Uniform vorticity flow appears to be non-regenerative but, when it is stable and viscosity acts to create a sufficiently strong boundary layer flow, dynamo action may occur. It is shown that the alternative flow that exists on an instability island in (Ω ₁/Ω ₀,?b/a) space can be vigorously regenerative.     

Gravitational Hall Effect and Gravitomagnetic Dynamo

In the linear approximation of the gravitational field and using the gravitational quantum Hall effect, the gravitational conductivity is defined and the gravitomagnetic analogous of the kinematic dynamo is formulated.     

Nonlinear Magnetoconvection and the Geostrophic Flow - Subcritical Solutions

The magnetoconvection problem under the magnetostrophic approximation is investigated as the nonlinear regime is entered. The model consists of a fluid filled sphere, internally heated, and rapidly rotating in the presence of a prescribed, axisymmetric, toroidal magnetic field. For simplicity only a dipole parity and a single azimuthal wavenumber (m = 2) is considered here. The leading order nonlinearity at small amplitude is the geostrophic flow U _g which is introduced to the previously linear model (Walker and Barenghi, 1997a, b). Walker and Barenghi (1997c) considered parameter space above critical and found that U _g acts as an equilibration mechanism for moderately supercritical solutions. However, for solutions well above critical a Taylor state is approached and the system can no longer equilibrate. More importantly though, in the context of this paper, is that subcritical solutions were found. Here subcritical solutions are considered in more detail. It was found that, at is strongly dependent on . ( is the critical value of the modified Rayleigh number is a measure of the maximum amplitude of the generated geostrophic flow while , the Elsasser number, defines the strength of the prescribed toroidal field.) R_m at proves to be the key measure in determining how far into the subcritical regime the system can advance.     

Numerical simulations of MHD dynamos

The generation of magnetic fields in space plasmas and in astrophysics is usually described within the framework of magnetohydrodynamics. Turbulent helical flows produce magnetic fields very efficiently, with correlation length scales larger than those characterizing the flow. Within the context of the solar magnetic cycle, a turbulent dynamo is responsible for the so-called alpha effect, while the Omega effect is associated to the differential rotation of the Sun.We present direct numerical simulations of turbulent magnetohydrodynamic dynamos including two-fluid effects such as the Hall current. More specifically, we study the evolution of an initially weak and small-scale magnetic field in a system maintained in a stationary regime of hydrodynamic turbulence, and explore the conditions for exponential growth of the magnetic energy. In all the cases considered, we find that the dynamo saturates at the equipartition level between kinetic and magnetic energy, and the total energy reaches a Kolmogorov power spectrum.     

A nonlinear dynamo driven by rapidly rotating convection

In Kim et al. (Kim, E., Hughes, D.W. and Soward, A.M., “An investigation into high conductivity dynamo action driven by rotating convection”, Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dynam. 91, 303–332 ().) we investigated kinematic dynamo action driven by rapidly rotating convection in a cylindrical annulus. Here we extend this work to consider self-consistent nonlinear dynamo action in which the back-reaction of the Lorentz force on the flow is taken into account. In particular, we investigate, as a function of magnetic Prandtl number, the evolution of an initially weak magnetic field in two different types of convective flow – one chaotic and the other integrable. On saturation, the latter shows a systematic dependence on the magnetic Prandtl number whereas the former appears not to. In addition, we show how, in keeping with the findings of Cattaneo et al. (Cattaneo, F., Hughes, D.W. and Kim, E., “Suppression of chaos in a simplified nonlinear dynamo model”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 2057–2060 ().), saturation of the growth of the magnetic field is brought about, for the originally chaotic flow, by a strong suppression of chaos.     

Scaling Law for Galactic Magnetic Fields

A nonlinear mean field dynamo in turbulent disks and spherical shells is discussed. We use a nonlinearity in the dynamo which includes the effect of delayed back-reaction of the mean magnetic field on the magnetic part of the — effect. This effect is determined by an evolutionary equation. The axisymmetric case is considered. An analytical expression (in a single-mode approximation) is derived which gives the magnitude of the mean magnetic field as a function of rotation and the parameters for turbulent disks. The value obtained for the mean magnetic field is in agreement with observations for galaxies.     

Large-scale convective dynamos in a stratified rotating plane layer

We study the effect of stratification on large-scale dynamo action in convecting fluids in the presence of background rotation. The fluid is confined between two horizontal planes and both boundaries are impermeable, stress-free and perfectly conducting. An asymptotic analysis is performed in the limit of rapid rotation (τ???1 where τ is the Taylor number). We analyse asymptotic magnetic dynamo solutions in rapidly rotating systems generalising the results of Soward [A convection-driven dynamo I. The weak field case. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A 1974, 275, 611–651] to include the effects of compressibility. We find that in general the presence of stratification delays the efficiency of large-scale dynamo action in this regime, leading to a reduction of the onset of dynamo action and in the nonlinear regime a diminution of the large-scale magnetic energy for flows with the same kinetic energy.     

A Grid-Spectral Method of the Solution of the 3D Kinematic Geodynamo with the Inner Core

A 3D kinematic geodynamo model in a sphere with the conductive solid inner core is considered. The 3D magnetic field and velocity field are resolved in the physical space for r- and -coordinates, whereas the sin- and cos-decomposition is applied to the -coordinate. The additional boundary conditions for the case of non-zero velocity field on the boundaries of the liquid spherical shell and for different magnetic diffusivities of the inner and outer core are applied. The computer code was tested by free decay mode solutions and comparisons were made also with results reported by other authors. This work is a part of a project to study 3D inviscid geodynamo models.     

The motion of magnetic fronts in spiral galaxies

Abstract

We study the nonlinear asymptotic thin disc approximation to the mean field dynamo equations, as applicable to spiral galaxies. The circumstances in which sharp magnetic field structures (fronts) can propagate radially are investigated, and an expression for the speed of propagation derived. We find that the speed of an interior front is proportional to η//R _? (where η is the diffusivity and R_t the galactic radius), whereas an exterior front moves with speed of order , where γ is the local growth rate of the dynamo. Numerical simulations are presented, that agree well with our asymptotic results. Further, we perform numerical experiments using the 'no-z' approximation for thin disc dynamos, and show that the propagation of magnetic fronts in this approximation can also be understood in terms of our asymptotic results.     

Generalisation of a Nonlinear Dynamo Model

In order to gain a better understanding of the physical processes underlying fast dynamo action it is instructive to investigate the structure of both the magnetic field and the velocity field after the dynamo saturates. Previously, computational results have been presented (Cattaneo, Hughes and Kim, 1996) that indicate, in particular, that Lagrangian chaos is suppressed in the dynamical regime of the dynamo. Here we extend their model by removing the assumption of neglecting the inertial term. This allows for an investigation into the effect of this term on the evolution of the dynamo via a comparison of the two models. Our results indicate that this term plays a crucial role in the physics of the dynamo.     

Galactic Dynamo and Spiral Arms - 3D MHD Simulations

In the present project we investigate the evolution of a three-dimensional (3D), large-scale galactic magnetic field under the influence of gas flows in spiral arms and in the presence of dynamo action. Our principal goal is to check how the dynamical evolution of gaseous spiral arms affects the global magnetic field structure and to what extent our models could explain the observed spiral patterns of polarization B-vectors in nearby galaxies. A two-step scheme is used: the N-body simulations of a two-component, self-gravitating disk provide the time-dependent velocity fields which are then used as the input to solve the mean-field dynamo equations. We found that the magnetic field is directly influenced by large-scale non-axisymmetric density wave flows yielding the magnetic field locally well-aligned with gaseous spiral arms in a manner similar to that discussed already by Otmianowska-Mazur et al. 1997. However, an additional field amplification, introduced by a non-zero -term in the dynamo equations, is required to cause a systematic increase of magnetic energy density against the diffusive losses. Our simulated magnetic fields are also used to construct the models of a high-frequency (Faraday rotation-free) polarized radio emission accounting for effects of projection and limited resolution, thus suitable for direct comparisons with observations.