MHD and Dynamos

The goal of this project is to develop a theory for the origin and organization of self-sustained magnetic fields produced in the liquid interiors of planetary, stellar and other astrophysical bodies. In shear flow the induction equation is highly non-normal and produces large transient growth of the magnetic field so that both transition to self sustained dynamo states and fully developed MHD turbulence can be analyzed using GST in a manner analogous to the application of GST to transition mechanisms and fully developed shear flow turbulence.

Publications

Farrell, B.F., and P. J. Ioannou, 1999: Optimal Excitation of Magnetic Fields. Astrophysical Journal, 522, 1079-1087. pdf

Farrell, B.F., and P. J. Ioannou, 1999: Stochastic Dynamics of Field Generation in Conducting Fluids. Astrophysical Journal, 522, 1088-1099. pdf