Problems with kinematic mean field electrodynamics at high magnetic Reynolds numbers

We discuss the applicability of the kinematic $\alpha$-effect formalism at high magnetic Reynolds numbers. In this regime the underlying flow is likely to be a small-scale dynamo, leading to the exponential growth of fluctuations. Difficulties arise with both the actual calculation of the $\alpha$ coefficients and with its interpretation. We argue that although the former may be circumvented -- and we outline several procedures by which the the $\alpha$ coefficients can be computed in principle -- the interpretation of these quantities in terms of the evolution of the large-scale field may be fundamentally flawed.Comment: 5 pages, LaTeX, no figure

Flux expulsion with dynamics

In the process of flux expulsion, a magnetic field is expelled from a region of closed streamlines on a TR1/3 m time scale, for magnetic Reynolds number Rm ≫ 1 (T being the turnover time of the flow). This classic result applies in the kinematic regime where the flow field is specified independently of the magnetic field. A weak magnetic ‘core’ is left at the centre of a closed region of streamlines, and this decays exponentially on the TR1/2 m time scale. The present paper extends these results to the dynamical regime, where there is competition between the process of flux expulsion and the Lorentz force, which suppresses the differential rotation. This competition is studied using a quasi-linear model in which the flow is constrained to be axisymmetric. The magnetic Prandtl number Rm/Re is taken to be small, Rm large, and a range of initial field strengths b0 is considered. Two scaling laws are proposed and confirmed numerically. For initial magnetic fields below the threshold bcore = O(UR−1/3 m ), flux expulsion operates despite the Lorentz force, cutting through field lines to result in the formation of a central core of magnetic field. Here U is a velocity scale of the flow and magnetic fields are measured in Alfv´en units. For larger initial fields the Lorentz force is dominant and the flow creates Alfv´en waves that propagate away. The second threshold is bdynam = O(UR−3/4 m ), below which the field follows the kinematic evolution and decays rapidly. Between these two thresholds the magnetic field is strong enough to suppress differential rotation leaving a magnetically controlled core spinning in solid body motion, which then decays slowly on a time scale of order TRm

Low magnetic Prandtl number dynamos with helical forcing

We present direct numerical simulations of dynamo action in a forced Roberts flow. The behavior of the dynamo is followed as the mechanical Reynolds number is increased, starting from the laminar case until a turbulent regime is reached. The critical magnetic Reynolds for dynamo action is found, and in the turbulent flow it is observed to be nearly independent on the magnetic Prandtl number in the range from 0.3 to 0.1. Also the dependence of this threshold with the amount of mechanical helicity in the flow is studied. For the different regimes found, the configuration of the magnetic and velocity fields in the saturated steady state are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 14 figure

Creation and evolution of magnetic helicity

Projecting a non-Abelian SU(2) vacuum gauge field - a pure gauge constructed from the group element U - onto a fixed (electromagnetic) direction in isospace gives rise to a nontrivial magnetic field, with nonvanishing magnetic helicity, which coincides with the winding number of U. Although the helicity is not conserved under Maxwell (vacuum) evolution, it retains one-half its initial value at infinite time.Comment: Clarifying remarks and references added; 12 pages, 1 figure using BoxedEPSF, REVTeX macros; submitted to Phys Rev D; email to [email protected]

Bipartite partial duals and circuits in medial graphs

It is well known that a plane graph is Eulerian if and only if its geometric dual is bipartite. We extend this result to partial duals of plane graphs. We then characterize all bipartite partial duals of a plane graph in terms of oriented circuits in its medial graph.Comment: v2: minor changes. To appear in Combinatoric

A new proof that alternating links are non-trivial

We use a simple geometric argument and small cancellation properties of link groups to prove that alternating links are non-trivial. This proof uses only classic results in topology and combinatorial group theory.Comment: Minor changes. To appear in Fundamenta Mathematica

Linear and nonlinear decay of cat's eyes in two-dimensional vortices, and the link to Landau poles

Copyright © 2007 Cambridge University Press. Published version reproduced with the permission of the publisher.This paper considers the evolution of smooth, two-dimensional vortices subject to a rotating external strain field, which generates regions of recirculating, cat's eye stream line topology within a vortex. When the external strain field is smoothly switched off, the cat's eyes may persist, or they may disappear as the vortex relaxes back to axisymmetry. A numerical study obtains criteria for the persistence of cat's eyes as a function of the strength and time scale of the imposed strain field, for a Gaussian vortex profile. In the limit of a weak external strain field and high Reynolds number, the disturbance decays exponentially, with a rate that is linked to a Landau pole of the linear inviscid problem. For stronger strain fields, but not strong enough to give persistent cat's eyes, the exponential decay of the disturbance varies: as time increases the decay slows down, because of the nonlinear feedback on the mean profile of the vortex. This is confirmed by determining the decay rate given by the Landau pole for these modified profiles. For strain fields strong enough to generate persistent cat's eyes, their location and rotation rate are determined for a range of angular velocities of the external strain field, and are again linked to Landau poles of the mean profiles, modified through nonlinear effects

Large Scale Structures a Gradient Lines: the case of the Trkal Flow

A specific asymptotic expansion at large Reynolds numbers (R)for the long wavelength perturbation of a non stationary anisotropic helical solution of the force less Navier-Stokes equations (Trkal solutions) is effectively constructed of the Beltrami type terms through multi scaling analysis. The asymptotic procedure is proved to be valid for one specific value of the scaling parameter,namely for the square root of the Reynolds number (R).As a result large scale structures arise as gradient lines of the energy determined by the initial conditions for two anisotropic Beltrami flows of the same helicity.The same intitial conditions determine the boundaries of the vortex-velocity tubes, containing both streamlines and vortex linesComment: 27 pages, 2 figure

Nonlinearity in a dynamo

Using a rotating flat layer heated from below as an example, we consider effects which lead to stabilizing an exponentially growing magnetic field in magnetostrophic convection in transition from the kinematic dynamo to the full non-linear dynamo. We present estimates of the energy redistribution over the spectrum and helicity quenching by the magnetic field. We also study the alignment of the velocity and magnetic fields. These regimes are similar to those in planetary dynamo simulations.Comment: Accepted to Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyna