Published January 2005 | Version v1
Journal article

Bihelical magnetic relaxation and large scale magnetic field growth

  • 1. Department of Physics and Astronomy and Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627 (United States)

Description

A unified, three-scale system of equations accommodating nonlinear velocity driven helical dynamos, as well as time-dependent relaxation of magnetically dominated unihelical or bihelical systems is derived and solved herein. When opposite magnetic helicities of equal magnitude are injected on the intermediate and small scales, the large scale magnetic helicity grows kinematically (independent of the magnetic Reynolds number) to equal that on the intermediate scale. For both free and driven relaxation large scale fields are rapidly produced. Subsequently, a dissipation-limited dynamo, driven by growth of small scale kinetic helicity, further amplifies the large scale field. The results are important for astrophysical coronae fed with bihelical structures by dynamos in their host rotators. The large scale for the rotator corresponds to the intermediate scale for the corona. That bihelical magnetic relaxation can produce global scale fields may help to explain the formation of astrophysical coronal holes and magnetohydrodynamic outflows

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Plasmas
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 012304-012304.11
ISSN
1070-664X
CODEN
PHPAEN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
36096725
Subject category
S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY;
Descriptors DEI
HELICITY; MAGNETIC FIELDS; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; PLASMA; RELAXATION
Descriptors DEC
FLUID MECHANICS; HYDRODYNAMICS; MECHANICS; PARTICLE PROPERTIES

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2005 American Institute of Physics