Related papers: Problems and Progress in Astrophysical Dynamos
The current understanding of astrophysical magnetic fields is reviewed, focusing on their generation and maintenance by turbulence. In the astrophysical context this generation is usually explained by a self-excited dynamo, which involves…
We construct a magnetic helicity conserving dynamo theory which incorporates a calculated magnetic helicity current. In this model the fluid helicity plays a small role in large scale magnetic field generation. Instead, the dynamo process…
Mean field dynamo theory is a leading candidate to explain the observed large scale magnetic fields of galaxies and stars. However, controversy arises over the extent of premature quenching by the backreaction of the growing field. We…
Some common properties of helical magnetic fields in decaying and driven turbulence are discussed. These include mainly the inverse cascade that produces fields on progressively larger scales. Magnetic helicity also restricts the evolution…
The generation of magnetic field in an electrically conducting fluid generally involves the complicated nonlinear interaction of flow turbulence, rotation and field. This dynamo process is of great importance in geophysics, planetary…
The origin and sustenance of large scale galactic magnetic fields has been a long standing and controversial astrophysical problem. Here an alternative to the ``standard'' $\a-\Omega$ mean field dynamo and primordial theories is pursued.…
Large-scale magnetic fields in stars and galaxies are thought to arise by mean-field dynamo action due to the combined influence of both helical turbulence and shear. Those systems are also highly conducting and the turbulence therein leads…
The theory of large scale dynamos is reviewed with particular emphasis on the magnetic helicity constraint in the presence of closed and open boundaries. In the presence of closed or periodic boundaries, helical dynamos respond to the…
Mean field dynamos may explain the origin of large scale magnetic fields of galaxies, but controversy arises over the extent of dynamo quenching by the growing field. Here we explain how apparently conflicting results may be mutually…
Large scale strong magnetic fields in galaxies are generally thought to have been generated by a mean field dynamo. In order to have generated the fields observed, the dynamo would have had to have operated for a sufficiently long period of…
Evolving magnetic fields are frequently embedded in plasmas that are turbulent. When the primary interest is in effects that are on a large scale compared to that of the turbulence, it is desirable to average over the turbulence to obtain…
Magnetic fields correlated on kiloparsec scales are seen in spiral galaxies. Their origin could be due to amplification of a small seed field by a turbulent galactic dynamo. We review the current status of the galactic dynamo, especially…
Magnetic fields correlated on several kiloparsec scales are seen in spiral galaxies. Their origin could be due to the winding up of a primordial cosmological field or due to amplification of a small seed field by a turbulent galactic…
Some recent results and open issues in magnetic dynamo theory are addressed. The distinction between small-scale and mean-field dynamo (MFD) action in forced turbulent flows is emphasized. Though useful, the MFD has been controversial. This…
The origin and maintenance of coherent magnetic fields in the Universe is reviewed with an emphasis on the possible challenges that arise in their theoretical understanding. We begin with the interesting possibility that magnetic fields…
Many astrophysical bodies harbor magnetic fields that are thought to be sustained by a dynamo process. However, it has been argued that the production of large-scale magnetic fields by mean-field dynamo action is strongly suppressed at…
The connection between helically isotropic MHD turbulence and mean-field dynamo theory is reviewed. The nonlinearity in the mean-field theory is not yet well established, but detailed comparison with simulations begin to help select viable…
Reconnection is the process by which magnetic fields in a conducting fluid change their topology. This process is essential for understanding a wide variety of astrophysical processes, including stellar and galactic dynamos and…
We propose a new mechanism for turbulent mean-field dynamo in which the magnetic fluctuations resulting from a small-scale dynamo drive the generation of large-scale magnetic fields. This is in stark contrast to the common idea that…
Dynamos in astrophysical disks are usually explained in terms of the standard alpha-omega mean field dynamo model where the local helicity generates a radial field component from an azimuthal field. The subsequent shearing of the radial…