Lectures on Solar and Planetary Dynamos

A graduate text for students in planetary and solar physics, plasma physics and astrophysics.

M. R. E. Proctor (Edited by), A. D. Gilbert (Edited by)

9780521467049, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 8 December 1994

392 pages, 71 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.9 cm, 0.675 kg

'These lectures give a state-of-the-art description of modern dynamo theory, with complete references on each topic covered … deserves a much wider audience than dynamo specialists … an excellent overview of our current state of knowledge' Physics World

Dynamo theory, the study of the generation and maintenance of magnetic fields by fluid motions, is important in many areas of physics, ranging from stellar and galactic dynamics, through solar physics and geomagnetism, to reactor physics. This volume contains the lectures given by leading specialists, for an intensive course held at the Newton Institute, as part of a NATO Advanced Study Institute. The course was intended for beginning graduate students, so starts with background material, before leading on to describe areas closer to current research. Topics covered include planetary and solar dynamos, fast dynamos and the use of symmetry principles to derive evolution equations. Detailed bibliographies are provided. As the only modern introduction to the subject, this will be welcome reading for students in planetary and solar physics, plasma physics and astrophysics.

Introduction
1. Fundamentals of dynamo theory P. H. Roberts
2. Solar and stellar dynamics N. O. Weiss
3. Convection and magnetoconvection in a rapidly rotating sphere M. R. E. Proctor
4. Solar dynamos: computational background A. Brandenburg
5. Energy sources for planetary dynamos W. V. R. Malkus
6. Fast dynamos A. M. Soward
7. Non-linear planetary dynamos D. R. Fearn
8. The chaotic solar cycle E. A. Spiegel
9. The non-linear dynamo and Model-Z S. I. Braginsky
10. Maps and dynamos B. J. Bayly
11. Bifurcations in rotating systems E. Knobloch
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Mathematical modelling [PBWH]