The Kinematic Theory of Solar Dynamo

• Published in: Chinese journal of astronomy and astrophysics Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 12 - 32
• Main Authors: Zhang, Ke-Ke, Liao, Xin-Hao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.02.2003; School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Exeter, EX4 4QE, UK%Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Shanghai 200030
• Subjects: Solar magnetic fields - kinematic dynamos - magnetohydrody-namics
• ISSN: 1009-9271
• DOI: 10.1088/1009-9271/3/1/12

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.