Numerical solutions of the nonlinear α-effect dynamo equations

Abstract

An extension is made of the α-effect model of the earth's dynamo into the nonlinear regime following the prescription of Malkus & Proctor (1975). In this model, the effects of small-scale dynamics on the α-effect are suppressed, and the global effects of induced velocity fields examined in isolation. The equations are solved numerically using finite-difference methods, and it is shown that viscous and inertial forces are unimportant in the final equilibration, as suggested in the above paper.