Measurements of the magnetic field induced by a turbulent flow of liquid metal

Journal Article · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2173614· OSTI ID:20783119

Nornberg, M D; Spence, E J; Kendrick, R D; Jacobson, C M; Forest, C B ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)

Initial results from the Madison Dynamo Experiment provide details of the inductive response of a turbulent flow of liquid sodium to an applied magnetic field. The magnetic field structure is reconstructed from both internal and external measurements. A mean toroidal magnetic field is induced by the flow when an axial field is applied, thereby demonstrating the omega effect. Poloidal magnetic flux is expelled from the fluid by the poloidal flow. Small-scale magnetic field structures are generated by turbulence in the flow. The resulting magnetic power spectrum exhibits a power-law scaling consistent with the equipartition of the magnetic field with a turbulent velocity field. The magnetic power spectrum has an apparent knee at the resistive dissipation scale. Large-scale eddies in the flow cause significant changes to the instantaneous flow profile resulting in intermittent bursts of nonaxisymmetric magnetic fields, demonstrating that the transition to a dynamo is not smooth for a turbulent flow.

• OSTI ID: 20783119
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 13; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
LIQUID METALS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
SODIUM
TURBULENCE
TURBULENT FLOW
VELOCITY