Experimental Test for the Dynamo Theory of Earth and Stellar Magnetism

The dynamo theories to explain earth and stellar magnetism are confronted with gerat theoretical difficulties. For this reason it has not been possible to reach a final conclusion on the feasibility of self-sustaining hydromagnetic dynamos. In order to solve these difficulties, it is suggested to test the dynamo theory experimentally under laboratory conditions. It is proposed to put a liquid conductor into a container of a rapidly rotating ultracentrifuge. To "drive" the dynamo, forceful fluid motions must be induced in the liquid conductor. This can be done either by externally applied forces, for instance by propellers, or by thermal convection. By assuming the validity of similarity laws it is possible to show that conditions presumably present in stellar-size dynamos can be simulated under laboratory conditions.