地球发电机过程的实验室模拟研究

关于地磁场起源的研究依赖于理论研究、实验室实验、数值模拟和实地观测等四个方面的工作：理论研究给出物理框架，提出物理思想；实验室实验检验理论预言，发现新现象；数值模拟可以对很大参数空间的复杂过程和对象给出多方面的过程描述；而实地观测不仅仅是上述三方面研究工作的出发点和基础，而且也是对研究结果的最终检验.本文介绍地球发电机过程实验研究的主要结果，特别是2000年后的突破性进展.目前，大多数实验研究还停留在运动学发电机水平，相对于数值模拟的巨大成就来说，实验研究需要大力发展，这就是正在发展中的第二代实验发电机.

Laboratory experiments on geodynamo

The knowledge on the origin of the geomagnetic field relies on theoretical studies, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations, and observations. The theoretical studies lay down a physical frame and supply physical ideas; the laboratory experiments examine the theoretical production and discover important new phenomena; the numerical simulations may describe complicated dynamo processes in a wide range of parameters; and finally, observations serve not only as the start point of these studies, but also as an assessment of the obtained results. In this paper, the principal results of experimental geodynamo, especially, those obtained after 2000, are introduced. At present, most laboratory experiments on geodynamo are focused on kinematical dynamo. Compared with the great achievements on the numerical simulations of geodynamo, it is necessary to develop experimental studies to the second generation of experimental geodynamo.