Open AccessThe magnetization of protoplanetary discs
Author(s) -
Birk G. T.,
Wiechen H.,
Kopp A.,
Lesch H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06178.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , plasma , magnetic field , magnetization , dusty plasma , protoplanetary disk , angular momentum , remanence , astronomy , planet , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics
The remanent magnetization of meteorite material in the Solar system indicates that magnetic fields of several gauss are present in the protoplanetary disc. It is shown that such relatively strong magnetic fields can be generated in dusty protoplanetary discs by relative shear motions of the charged dust and the neutral gas components. Self‐consistent multi‐fluid simulations show that, for typical plasma parameters, shear flows with collisional momentum transfer between the different components of the dusty plasma result in a very efficient generation of magnetic fields with strengths of about 0.1–1 G on spatial scales of two astronomical units in about one year. Based on the simulations we may predict that future measurements will reveal the strong magnetization of circumstellar discs around young stellar objects.