Axisymmetric Dynamos Sustained by a Modified Ohm's Law in a Toroidal Volume

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sato, Naoki, Hori, Kumiko
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Sato, Naoki
Hori, Kumiko
author_facet Sato, Naoki
Hori, Kumiko
contents This work tackles a significant challenge in dynamo theory: the possibility of long-term amplification and maintenance of an axisymmetric magnetic field. We introduce a novel model that allows for non-trivial axially-symmetric steady-state solutions for the magnetic field, particularly when the dynamo operates primarily within a ``nearly-spherical'' toroidal volume inside a fluid shell surrounding a solid core. In this model, Ohm's law is generalized to include the dissipative force, arising from electron collisions, that tends to align the velocity of the shell with the rotational speed of the inner core and outer mantle. Our findings reveal that, in this context, Cowling's theorem and the neutral point argument are modified, leading to magnetic energy growth for a suitable choice of toroidal flow. The global equilibrium magnetic field that emerges from our model exhibits a dipolar character. The central insight of the model developed here is that if an additional force is incorporated into Ohm's law, symmetric dynamos become possible.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_17527
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Axisymmetric Dynamos Sustained by a Modified Ohm's Law in a Toroidal Volume
Sato, Naoki
Hori, Kumiko
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Fluid Dynamics
Geophysics
This work tackles a significant challenge in dynamo theory: the possibility of long-term amplification and maintenance of an axisymmetric magnetic field. We introduce a novel model that allows for non-trivial axially-symmetric steady-state solutions for the magnetic field, particularly when the dynamo operates primarily within a ``nearly-spherical'' toroidal volume inside a fluid shell surrounding a solid core. In this model, Ohm's law is generalized to include the dissipative force, arising from electron collisions, that tends to align the velocity of the shell with the rotational speed of the inner core and outer mantle. Our findings reveal that, in this context, Cowling's theorem and the neutral point argument are modified, leading to magnetic energy growth for a suitable choice of toroidal flow. The global equilibrium magnetic field that emerges from our model exhibits a dipolar character. The central insight of the model developed here is that if an additional force is incorporated into Ohm's law, symmetric dynamos become possible.
title Axisymmetric Dynamos Sustained by a Modified Ohm's Law in a Toroidal Volume
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Fluid Dynamics
Geophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.17527