title: Experimental evidence for a transient Tayler instability in a cylindrical liquid-metal column.
abstract: In the current-driven, kink-type Tayler instability (TI) a sufficiently strong azimuthal magnetic field becomes unstable against nonaxisymmetric perturbations. The TI has been discussed as a possible ingredient of the solar dynamo mechanism and a source of the helical structures in cosmic jets. It is also considered as a size-limiting factor for liquid metal batteries. We report on a liquid metal TI experiment using a cylindrical column of the eutectic alloy GaInSn to which electrical currents of up to 8 kA are applied. We present results of external magnetic field measurements that indicate the transient occurrence of the TI in good agreement with numerical predictions. The interference of TI with the competing large-scale convection, resulting from Joule heating, is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, P.O. Box 510119, D-01314 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seilmayer
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gundrum
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weier
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerbeth
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gellert
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rüdiger