Mechanisms for generation and saturation of the dynamo field in the VKS experiment

Mechanisms for generation and saturation of the dynamo field in the VKS experiment

Jean-François Pinton

Ecole Normale Supèrieure de Lyon, Laboratoire de Physique

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Mesa Laboratory, Main Auditorium

Lecture at 11:00 am

Ever since the observation of a fully turbulent dynamo in the VKS experiments, experimental runs have aimed at understanding the generation mechanisms and the large variety of dynamical regimes that have been observed. I will review the runs done of the past 3 years, and point to the fundamental role played by boundary conditions. Another concern has also be the energy balance which sets the level of the dynamo magnetic field; a recent series of experiments in a Gallium flow point the role played by Alfven waves.