Planetary dynamos. (English) Zbl 1171.85003
Dormy, Emmanuel (ed.) et al., Mathematical aspects of natural dynamos. Selected by Grenoble Sciences. Grenoble: Grenoble Sciences Université Joseph Fourier; Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press (ISBN 978-1-58488-954-0/hbk). The Fluid Mechanics of Astrophysics and Geophysics 13, 257-280 (2007).
This paper is chapter 5: “Planetary dynamos” of the book “Mathematical aspects of natural dynamos”.
From the text: “After reviewing observational facts (Section 5.1), we identify some outstanding problems in planetary dynamo theory (Section 5.2). In the light of the observational evidence, we address the conditions needed for dynamo action (Section 5.3), the possible energy sources for planetary dynamos (Section 5.4), the internal structure of the planets (Section 5.5), and the dynamics of planetary interiors (Section 5.6). We finally review, in Section 5.7, the existing numerical planetary dynamo models.”
The magnetic fields are decomposed into spherical harmonics. The magnetic Reynolds number turns out to be a useful measure for the existence of the dynamo mechanism in planets.
For the entire collection see [Zbl 1157.78001].
From the text: “After reviewing observational facts (Section 5.1), we identify some outstanding problems in planetary dynamo theory (Section 5.2). In the light of the observational evidence, we address the conditions needed for dynamo action (Section 5.3), the possible energy sources for planetary dynamos (Section 5.4), the internal structure of the planets (Section 5.5), and the dynamics of planetary interiors (Section 5.6). We finally review, in Section 5.7, the existing numerical planetary dynamo models.”
The magnetic fields are decomposed into spherical harmonics. The magnetic Reynolds number turns out to be a useful measure for the existence of the dynamo mechanism in planets.
For the entire collection see [Zbl 1157.78001].
Reviewer: Hans-Jürgen Schmidt (Potsdam)
MSC:
85A30 | Hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic problems in astronomy and astrophysics |
85A05 | Galactic and stellar dynamics |
78A25 | Electromagnetic theory (general) |
80A20 | Heat and mass transfer, heat flow (MSC2010) |
85A15 | Galactic and stellar structure |
76W05 | Magnetohydrodynamics and electrohydrodynamics |