Fluid Dynamics and Dynamos in Astrophysics and Geophysics

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Fluid Dynamics and Dynamos in Astrophysics and Geophysics

Fluid Dynamics and Dynamos in Astrophysics and Geophysics

Series:

The Fluid Mechanics of Astrophysics and Geophysics

Published:

March 16, 2005 by CRC Press - 464 Pages

Editor(s):

Andrew M. Soward, University of Exeter, UK; Christopher A. Jones, University of Leeds, Leeds, England, UK; David W. Hughes, University of Leeds, UK; Nigel O. Weiss

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$157.95

ISBN 9780849333552

Cat# 3355

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ISBN 9780203017692

Cat# TFE124

Features

New observations in objects such as accretion discs and pulsars that suggest new theoretical ideas in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), which in turn can influence the development of more realistic models

The dynamo problem, which lies at the heart of studies of the magnetic fields of planets, stars, galaxies, and accretion discs and remains one of the most interesting and controversial topics in astrophysical MHD

MHD laboratory experiments that are leading to a deeper understanding of MHD turbulence and the dynamics of rapidly rotating convection; the construction of the first working fluid dynamosFluid Dynamics and Dynamos in Astrophysics and Geophysics provides balanced coverage and clearly illustrates the symbiotic relationship between theory and observation. It offers a unique opportunity to review current simulations and experiments, explore some fundamental questions that are not yet resolved, and examine some of the exciting recent advances emerging in the field.

Summary

The increasing power of computer resources along with great improvements in observational data in recent years have led to some remarkable and rapid advances in astrophysical fluid dynamics. The subject spans three distinct but overlapping communities whose interests focus on (1) accretion discs and high-energy astrophysics; (2) solar, stellar, and galactic magnetic fields; and (3) the geodynamo, planetary magnetic fields, and associated experiments. This book grew out of a special conference sponsored by the London Mathematical Society with the support of EPSRC that brought together leading researchers in all of these areas to exchange ideas and review the status of the field.

The many interesting problems addressed in this volume concern:

ACCRETION DISCS, Gordon I. Ogilvie
Classical theory of accretion discs
Angular momentum transport
Continuum celestial mechanics
DISCS WITH MHD TURBULENCE AND THEIR RESPONSE TO ORBITING PLANETS, John C.B. Papaloizou and Richard P. Nelson
Set up of initial models
Simulation results
Discussion
MIXING AT THE SURFACE OF WHITE DWARF STARS, R. Rosner and A. Alexakis
Previous work on mixing
An alternative: mixing at boundaries by "wind"-driven resonant modes
Conclusions
PULSAR MAGNETOSPHERES, Leon Mestel
Basic electrodynamics
Models with pair production
Live models
The S(P) relation
The inner domain
Computational results
Alternative models
Magnetospheric gaps
MAGNETIC FIELDS IN GALAXIES, Ellen G. Zweibel
Galactic structure
Observations of Galactic magnetic fields
Galaxy formation and magnetogenesis
Building blocks of Galactic magnetic fields
Summary and outlook
SELF-CONSISTENT MEAN FIELD ELECTRODYNAMICS IN TWO AND THREE DIMENSIONS, P H. Diamond, D. W. Hughes and Eun-jin Kim
Turbulent diffusion of magnetic fields
The generation of magnetic fields
Momentum and flux transport in 2D MHD
Concluding remarks
THE SOLAR TACHOCLINE: FORMATION, STABILITY AND ITS ROLE IN THE SOLAR DYNAMO, S. M. Tobias
Properties of the solar tachocline
Why is the solar tachocline so thin?
Instabilities of the solar tachocline
The tachocline and the solar dynamo
Discussion and conclusion
MAGNETOCONVECTION, M.R.E. Proctor
The induction equation and the Lorentz force
Boussinesq magnetoconvection in a vertical field
Nonlinear Boussinesq magnetoconvection
Strong magnetic fields
Shearing instabilities and streaming flows
Convection in extended regions
Effects of stratification
Discussion
ALFVÉN WAVES WITHIN THE EARTH'S CORE, D. Jault and G. L´egaut
Propagation of Alfv´en waves within an entirely
fluid spherical body
Topographical effects at the CMB
Influence of a conducting inner core
Concluding remarks
TURBULENCE MODELS AND PLANE LAYER DYNAMOS, C.A. Jones and P.H. Roberts
Background to the LANS o-models
Model description and governing equations
The hyperdiffusive and the LANS o-models
Subgrid scale boundary conditions
Linear theory
Numerical simulations
Conclusions
PLANETARY AND STELLAR DYNAMOS: CHALLENGES FOR NEXT GENERATION MODELS, Gary A. Glatzmaier
Current 3D geodynamo simulations
Laminar approximations of turbulent flows
2D Turbulent magnetoconvection simulations
Discussion
CONVECTION IN ROTATING SPHERICAL FLUID SHELLS AND ITS DYNAMO STATES, F.H. Busse and R. Simitev
Mathematical formulation of the problem
Convection in rotating spherical shells
Evolution of convection columns at small Prandtl numbers
Convection at very small Prandtl numbers
Convection driven dynamos at moderate Prandtl numbers
Convection driven dynamos in low Prandtl number fluids
Torsional oscillations
Oscillating dipolar dynamos
Discussion and outlook
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS ON LIQUID METAL DYNAMOS AND LIQUID METAL MHD TURBULENCE, Stephan Fauve and Daniel P. Lathrop
Self-generation in Riga and Karlsruhe
Generating a fully three-dimensional turbulent flow in a compact volume
Motivations for rapidly rotating flows
Concluding remarks
INDEX