Nordita Astrophysics Seminars

A model of driven and decaying magnetic turbulence in a cylinder

by Koen Kemel

Europe/Stockholm
122:026

122:026

Description
Using mean-field theory, we compute the evolution of the magnetic field in a cylinder with outer perfectly conducting boundaries, an imposed axial magnetic and electric field. The thus injected magnetic helicity in the system can be redistributed by magnetic helicity fluxes down the gradient of the local current helicity of the small-scale magnetic field. A weak reversal of the axial magnetic field is found to be a consequence of the magnetic helicity flux in the system. Such fluxes are known to alleviate so-called catastrophic quenching of the alpha-effect in astrophysical applications. Application to the reversed field pinch in plasma confinement devices is discussed.

Streaming video
Download video

arXiv:1106.1129