Nonlinear Large Scale Flow in a Precessing Cylinder and Its Ability To Drive Dynamo Action

André Giesecke, Tobias Vogt, Thomas Gundrum, and Frank Stefani
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 024502 – Published 12 January 2018
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Abstract

We have conducted experimental measurements and numerical simulations of a precession-driven flow in a cylindrical cavity. The study is dedicated to the precession dynamo experiment currently under construction at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and aims at the evaluation of the hydrodynamic flow with respect to its ability to drive a dynamo. We focus on the strongly nonlinear regime in which the flow is essentially composed of the directly forced primary Kelvin mode and higher modes in terms of standing inertial waves arising from nonlinear self-interactions. We obtain an excellent agreement between experiment and simulation with regard to both flow amplitudes and flow geometry. A peculiarity is the resonance-like emergence of an axisymmetric mode that represents a double roll structure in the meridional plane. Kinematic simulations of the magnetic field evolution induced by the time-averaged flow yield dynamo action at critical magnetic Reynolds numbers around Rmc430, which is well within the range of the planned liquid sodium experiment.

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  • Received 21 August 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.024502

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Fluid Dynamics

Authors & Affiliations

André Giesecke*, Tobias Vogt, Thomas Gundrum, and Frank Stefani

  • Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany

  • *a.giesecke@hzdr.de

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Vol. 120, Iss. 2 — 12 January 2018

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