Generation of a Magnetic Field by Dynamo Action in a Turbulent Flow of Liquid Sodium

Journal Article · Fri Jan 26 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.044502· OSTI ID:20861643

Monchaux, R; Chiffaudel, A; Daviaud, F; Dubrulle, B; Gasquet, C; Marie, L; Ravelet, F ^[1]; Berhanu, M; Fauve, S; Mordant, N; Petrelis, F ^[2]; Bourgoin, M; Moulin, M; Odier, Ph; Pinton, J -F; Volk, R ^[3]

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1. Service de Physique de l'Etat Condense, Direction des Sciences de la Matiere, CEA-Saclay, CNRS URA 2464, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex (France)
2. Laboratoire de Physique Statistique de l'Ecole Normale Superieure, CNRS UMR 8550, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05 (France)
3. Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5672, 46 allee d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07 (France)

We report the observation of dynamo action in the von Karman sodium experiment, i.e., the generation of a magnetic field by a strongly turbulent swirling flow of liquid sodium. Both mean and fluctuating parts of the field are studied. The dynamo threshold corresponds to a magnetic Reynolds number R{sub m}{approx}30. A mean magnetic field of the order of 40 G is observed 30% above threshold at the flow lateral boundary. The rms fluctuations are larger than the corresponding mean value for two of the components. The scaling of the mean square magnetic field is compared to a prediction previously made for high Reynolds number flows.

• OSTI ID: 20861643
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 98, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.044502; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
58 GEOSCIENCES
LIQUIDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC REYNOLDS NUMBER
SODIUM
TURBULENT FLOW