Abstract
The problem of the build-up and maintenance of cosmical magnetic fields is presented. The basic phenomenological theory of astrophysical dynamos is outlined. The more formal approach of mean-field electrodynamic is also exposed. Simple solutions of the dynamo equations are discussed. Finally, the problem of the creation of magnetic fields in an unmagnetized plasma is briefly considered.
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Notes
- 1.
An exposition in english of the original german papers can be found in the book by Krause and R\(\ddot{\mathrm{a}}\)dler [13].
- 2.
The assumption on the magnetic Reynolds number may be difficult to justify in astrophysical conditions. In spite of this it is customary to accept it.
- 3.
\(\epsilon _{ijk}\) vanishes if at least two of the indices are equal, equals \(+1\) for a permutation of the indices even with respect to the fundamental permutation \(123\) and \(-1\) for an odd permutation.
- 4.
If \(k_x < 0\), the whole reasoning can be repeated with the same final results.
- 5.
A discussion of this point, which is beyond the aim of this introductory book, can be found in Zeldovich et al. (1983) [10].
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Chiuderi, C., Velli, M. (2015). Build-Up of Magnetic Fields. In: Basics of Plasma Astrophysics. UNITEXT for Physics. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5280-2_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5280-2_11
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