Turbulent Cascades and the alpha Dynamo
Abstract
The well known mean-field model of a turbulence driven dynamo is reviewed in relation to Laboratory experiments in which a turbulent cascade is created by a pair of large rotors. It is argued that in such experiments the alpha-effect, driving a dynamo field, will be much less than the dissipative beta-effect. Consequently a mean field dynamo cannot be sustained. This conclusion is supported by recent measurements of the alpha and beta effects in the Madison Dynamo Experiment.
- Publication:
-
arXiv e-prints
- Pub Date:
- October 2012
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.1210.3714
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1210.3714
- Bibcode:
- 2012arXiv1210.3714T
- Keywords:
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- Physics - Fluid Dynamics;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics;
- Physics - Plasma Physics