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Dynamo action and the nearly axisymmetric magnetic field of Saturn
Author(s) -
Love J. J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl008466
Subject(s) - differential rotation , dynamo , rotational symmetry , dynamo theory , physics , magnetic field , rotation (mathematics) , magnetohydrodynamics , saturn , solar dynamo , spherical shell , mercury's magnetic field , classical mechanics , action (physics) , kinematics , mechanics , shell (structure) , astrophysics , l shell , geometry , mathematics , planet , earth's magnetic field , materials science , quantum mechanics , composite material
We examine kinematic dynamo action in an electrically conducting spherical body of fluid with an overlying shell of differential rotation. It is thought that such flow types could explain the nearly axisymmetric magnetic field of Saturn. Although we find that an outer layer of differential rotation can ‘axisymmetrize’ the exterior magnetic field, surprisingly, sometimes it does not, giving magnetic fields that have no axisymmetric ingredients.