The Karlsruhe dynamo experiment

Studia geoph. et geol. 42, in press

Contact: khraedler@aip.de

Preprint of paper (116 kb gzip'ed postscript)

K.-H. Rädler [1], E. Apstein [1], M. Rheinhardt [1], M. Schüler [1] (added May 14, 1998)

  1. Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, An der Sternwarte 16, D-14482 Potsdam, Germany

Abstract

In the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe an experiment is under preparation in which, in view of the geodynamo and other cosmic dynamos, a homogeneous dynamo should be demonstrated and investigated. This experiment is discussed within the framework of mean-field dynamo theory. Results are presented concerning kinematic cylindrical mean-field dynamo models reflecting some features of the experimental device, as well as results of detailed calculations of the alpha-effect that apply to arbitrarily high magnetic Reynolds numbers. On this basis estimates of the excitation conditions of the dynamo are given and predictions concerning the geometrical structure of the generated magnetic fields are made.

Key words: dynamo, geodynamo, dynamo experiment, mean-field dynamo theory,alpha-effect