arXiv · 1408.6793
Statistical simulation of the magnetorotational dynamo
Abstract
Turbulence and dynamo induced by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) are analyzed using quasi-linear statistical simulation methods. It is found that homogenous turbulence is unstable to a large scale dynamo instability, which saturates to an inhomogenous equilibrium with a strong dependence on the magnetic Prandtl number (Pm). Despite its enormously reduced nonlinearity, the dependence of the angular momentum transport on Pm in the quasi-linear model is qualitatively similar to that of nonlinear MRI turbulence. This indicates that recent convergence problems may be related to large scale dynamo and suggests how dramatically simplified models may be used to gain insight into the astrophysically relevant regimes of very low or high Pm.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Jonathan Squire, Amitava Bhattacharjee. 2014-11-27. Statistical simulation of the magnetorotational dynamo. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.114.085002
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.