Statistical Simulation of the Magnetorotational Dynamo

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2015 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.085002· OSTI ID:1260790

Squire, Jonathan ^[1]; Bhattacharjee, Amitava ^[2]

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1. Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Astrophysical Sciences
2. Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Astrophysical Sciences; Max Planck Society, Garching (Germany). Max Planck Inst. for Astrophysik

Turbulence and dynamo induced by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) are analyzed using quasilinear statistical simulation methods. It is found that homogenous turbulence is unstable to a large-scale dynamo instability, which saturates to an inhomogenous equilibrium with a strong dependence on the magnetic Prandtl number (Pm). Despite its enormously reduced nonlinearity, the dependence of the angular momentum transport on Pm in the quasilinear model is qualitatively similar to that of nonlinear MRI turbulence. This demonstrates the importance of the large-scale dynamo and suggests how dramatically simplified models may be used to gain insight into the astrophysically relevant regimes of very low or high Pm.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Contributing Organization: Max Planck Society, Garching (Germany). Max Planck Inst. for Astrophysik
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-09CH11466
• OSTI ID: 1260790
• Report Number(s): PPPL-5060
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 114; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Publisher: American Physical Society, College Park, MD (USA)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY