A SPHERICAL PLASMA DYNAMO EXPERIMENT

Journal Article · Mon Jul 20 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/700/1/470; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)· OSTI ID:21313874

Spence, E J ^[1]; Reuter, K ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A7 (Canada)
2. Max-Plank-Institut fuer Plasmaphysik, EURATOM Association, Boltzmannstrasse 2, D-85748 Garching (Germany)

We propose a plasma experiment to be used to investigate fundamental properties of astrophysical dynamos. The highly conducting, fast-flowing plasma will allow experimenters to explore systems with magnetic Reynolds numbers an order of magnitude larger than those accessible with liquid-metal experiments. The plasma is confined using a ring-cusp strategy and subject to a toroidal differentially rotating outer boundary condition. As proof of principle, we present magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the proposed experiment. When a von Karman-type boundary condition is specified, and the magnetic Reynolds number is large enough, dynamo action is observed. At different values of the magnetic Prandtl and Reynolds numbers the simulations demonstrate either laminar or turbulent dynamo action.

• OSTI ID: 21313874
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 700; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTROPHYSICS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CUSPED GEOMETRIES
LIQUID METALS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC REYNOLDS NUMBER
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
SIMULATION
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
STARS