The Kinematic Theory of Solar Dynamo

P1; Generation of the Sun's magnetic fields by self-inductive processes inthe solar electrically conducting interior, the solar dynamo theory, is a fundamen-tally important subject in astrophysics. The kinematic dynamo theory concernshow the magnetic fields are produced by kinematically possibl...

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Published inChinese journal of astronomy and astrophysics Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 12 - 32
Main Authors Zhang, Ke-Ke, Liao, Xin-Hao
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published IOP Publishing 01.02.2003
School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Exeter, EX4 4QE, UK%Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Shanghai 200030
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ISSN1009-9271
DOI10.1088/1009-9271/3/1/12

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Summary:P1; Generation of the Sun's magnetic fields by self-inductive processes inthe solar electrically conducting interior, the solar dynamo theory, is a fundamen-tally important subject in astrophysics. The kinematic dynamo theory concernshow the magnetic fields are produced by kinematically possible flows without beingconstrained by the dynamic equation. We review a number of basic aspects of thekinematic dynamo theory, including the magnetohydrodynamic approximation forthe dynamo equation, the impossibility of dynamo action with the solar differentialrotation, the Cowling's anti-dynamo theorem in the solar context, the turbulent al-pha effect and recently constructed three-dimensional interface dynamos controlledby the solar tachocline at the base of the convection zone.
ISSN:1009-9271
DOI:10.1088/1009-9271/3/1/12