The Effect of Small Scale Motion on an Essentially-Nonlinear Dynamo

Abstract

A dynamo is a process by which fluid motions sustain magnetic fields against dissipative effects. Dynamos occur naturally in many astrophysical systems. Theoretically, we have a much more robust understanding of the generation and maintenance of magnetic fields at the scale of the fluid motions or smaller, than that of magnetic fields at scales much larger than the local velocity. Here, via numerical simulations, we examine one example of an “essentially nonlinear” dynamo mechanism that successfully maintains magnetic field at the largest available scale (the system scale) without cascade to the resistive scale. In particular, we examine whether this new type of dynamo at the system scale is still effective in the presence of other smaller-scale dynamics (turbulence).