Toward a self-generating magnetic dynamo: the role of turbulence
Turbulent flow of liquid sodium is driven toward the transition to self-generating magnetic fields. The approach toward the transition is monitored with decay measurements of pulsed magnetic fields. These measurements show significant fluctuations due to the underlying turbulent fluid flow field. This paper presents experimental characterizations of the fluctuations in the decay rates and induced magnetic fields. These fluctuations imply that the transition to self-generation, which should occur at larger magnetic Reynolds number, will exhibit intermittent bursts of magnetic fields.
Peffley
NL
Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park 20742, USA.
Cawthorne
AB
Lathrop
DP