Magnetic fields of cosmic bodies - generated and maintained by dynamos
by
Karl-Heinz Rädler(Astrophysical Institute Potsdam)
→
Europe/Stockholm
FA31
FA31
Description
It is generally believed that most of the magnetic fields observed on
cosmic bodies are due to dynamo processes, that is, are a consequence of
the motion of electrically conducting fluid matter in their interiors. The
dynamo proved to be one of the basic phenomena in cosmic physics. In
the talk some fundamentals of dynamo theory will be explained. Its
kinematic version is based on Maxwell's equations, whereas the full
theory considers also the hydrodynamic equations. After discussing some
general aspects of dynamo theory particular attention will be paid to the
mean-field concept, which proved to be useful in many applications. In
the last decades dynamo models for various specific cosmic bodies have
been elaborated. In addition, some laboratory experiments on dynamos
have successfully run. Examples for that will be elucidated.