Generation of coherent magnetic fields in sheared inhomogeneous turbulence: No need for rotation?

Journal Article · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3551700· OSTI ID:21535157

Leprovost, Nicolas; Kim, Eun-jin ^[1]

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1. Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7RH (United Kingdom)

Coherent magnetic fields are often believed to be generated by the combination of stretching by differential rotation and turbulent amplification of magnetic field, via the so-called {alpha} effect. The latter is known to exist in helical turbulence, which is envisioned to arise due to both rotation and convection in solar-type stars. In this contribution, a turbulent flow driven by a nonhelical inhomogeneous forcing and its kinematic dynamo action are studied for a uniform magnetic field in the background of a linear shear flow. By using a quasilinear analysis and a nonperturbative method utilizing a time-dependent wave number, turbulence property and electromotive force are computed for arbitrary shear strength. Due to the large-scale shear flow, the turbulence is highly anisotropic, as a consequence, so is the electromotive force. The latter is found to exist even without rotation due to the combined effect of shear flow and inhomogeneous forcing, containing not only the {alpha} effect but also magnetic pumping (the {gamma} effect representing a transport of magnetic flux by turbulence). Specifically, without shear, only the magnetic pumping exists, aligned with the direction of inhomogeneity. For a weak but nonzero shear, the combined effects of shear and inhomogeneous forcing modify the structure of the magnetic pumping when the inhomogeneity is in the plane of the shear flow, the magnetic pumping becoming bidimensional in that plane. It also induces an {alpha} tensor which has nondiagonal components. When the inhomogeneity is perpendicular to the plane of the shear flow, the {alpha} effect has three nonzero diagonal components and one off-diagonal component. However, for a sufficiently strong shear, the {gamma} and {alpha} effects are suppressed due to shear stabilization which damps turbulence. A simplified dynamo model is then proposed where a large-scale dynamo arises due to the combined effect of shear flow and inhomogeneous forcing. In particular, the growth of a large-scale axisymmetric magnetic field is demonstrated in case of an inhomogeneity which is perpendicular to the plane of the shear flow. Interesting implications of these results for the structure of magnetic fields in star with slow rotation are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 21535157
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 18; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTROPHYSICS
CONVECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID MECHANICS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MASS TRANSFER
MECHANICS
MOTION
PHYSICS
PLASMA
ROTATION
SHEAR
TURBULENCE