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https://stockholmuniversity.zoom.us/j/940229961
The spherical Couette geometry is natural for examining planetary fluid flows. Rotation, shear, zonal flows, and the associated angular momentum fluxes are all naturally represented. In addition, by using a conducting fluid one can study the conditions of planetary cores and magnetic field / fluid interactions. Using a series of experiments, of increasing size and increasing power input (now a three-meter diameter system), we have examined liquid sodium spherical Couette flows to better understand planetary cores. We have uncovered precessional flows, inertial waves, turbulent bi-stability, many turbulent states, magnetic field gain by the Omega effect, and most recently magnetic field gain in the axial dipole, all while being sub-dynamo. In addition, we are exploring how machine-learning tools can be used to do short-term prediction of the time evolution of our laboratory magnetic fields variation. Our current experimental goal is to increase the helicity In the system by putting baffles on the inner sphere as motivated by Finke and Tilgner’s computational dynamo studies.