Liquid metal Taylor-Couette experiment on the magnetorotational instability


Liquid metal Taylor-Couette experiment on the magnetorotational instability

Gundrum, T.; Stefani, F.; Gerbeth, G.; Szklarski, J.; Ruediger, G.; Hollerbach, R.

The magnetorotational instability (MRI) plays an essential role in the formation of stars and black holes. By destabilizing hydrodynamically stable Keplerian flows, the MRI triggers turbulence and enables outward transport of angular momentum in accretion discs which is necessary for the mass accumulation of central objects.
In order to examine the MRI we applied helical magnetic fields to a Taylor-Couette experiment with the liquid alloy GaInSn [1,2,3]. The low velocities of the liquid metal in the experiment are measured using an ultrasonic Doppler velocimeter.
The results show typical predicted features of MRI at Reynolds numbers of the order 1000 and Hartmann numbers of the order 10. Particular focus is laid on new results with an improved experiment in which split end caps are used to minimize the effect of Ekman pumping.

Keywords: MRI

  • Lecture (Conference)
    6th International Symposium on Ultrasonic Doppler Methods for Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Engineering, 09.-11.09.2008, Praha, Czech Republic
  • Contribution to proceedings
    6th International Symposium on Ultrasonic Doppler Methods for Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Engineering, 09.-11.09.2008, Praha, Czech Republic
    Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Ultrasonic Doppler Methods for Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Engineering, Praque, Czech Republic: Czech Technical University in Praque, 978-80-87117-05-7, 65-68

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-10867
Publ.-Id: 10867