Model of driven and decaying magnetic turbulence in a cylinder

Koen Kemel, Axel Brandenburg, and Hantao Ji
Phys. Rev. E 84, 056407 – Published 21 November 2011

Abstract

Using mean-field theory, we compute the evolution of the magnetic field in a cylinder with outer perfectly conducting boundaries and imposed axial magnetic and electric fields. The thus injected magnetic helicity in the system can be redistributed by magnetic helicity fluxes down the gradient of the local current helicity of the small-scale magnetic field. A weak reversal of the axial magnetic field is found to be a consequence of the magnetic helicity flux in the system. Such fluxes are known to alleviate so-called catastrophic quenching of the α effect in astrophysical applications. A stronger field reversal can be obtained if there is also a significant kinetic α effect. Application to the reversed field pinch in plasma confinement devices is discussed.

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  • Received 6 June 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.056407

©2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Koen Kemel1,2, Axel Brandenburg1,2, and Hantao Ji3

  • 1NORDITA, AlbaNova University Center, Roslagstullsbacken 23, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
  • 2Department of Astronomy, Stockholm University, SE 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
  • 3Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA

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Issue

Vol. 84, Iss. 5 — November 2011

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