Magnetic field self-excitation in the Riga dynamo experiment


Magnetic field self-excitation in the Riga dynamo experiment

Gerbeth, G.; Stefani, F.; Gailitis, A.; Lielausis, O.; Platacis, E.

The theory of magnetic field generation in cosmic bodies due to the homogeneous dynamo effect has been widely elaborated during the last decades. However, an experimental verification of this effect was still missing until recently. At the Riga dynamo facility, self-excitation of a magnetic field in a liquid metal flow has been observed for the first time in November 1999. For increasing rotation rate of the driving propeller, the amplification of an applied magnetic field has been measured. At the highest rotation rate of 2150 rpm, an exponentially increasing 1.3 Hz signal has been detected on the background of the amplified 1 Hz signal. Additionally, after switching off the excitation current at a slightly lower rotation rate, a slowly decreasing eigenmode was observed. The results are shown to correspond convincingly with numerical predictions.

  • Lecture (Conference)
    ICTAM 2000, 20th Int. Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Chicago, USA, 27.8.-2.9.2000

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Publ.-Id: 3538