Dynamo Scaling Laws and Applications to the Planets

• Published in: Space science reviews Vol. 152; no. 1-4; pp. 565 - 590
• Main Author: Christensen, U. R.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-05-2010; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Astrophysics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Coriolis force; Earth, ocean, space; Electrical resistivity; Exact sciences and technology; Field strength; Flow velocity; Fluctuations; Flux; Heat transfer; Law; Magnetic fields; Magnetism; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Planets; Resistivity; Rotating generators; Scaling laws; Solar system; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Planetary magnetic fields; Geodynamo; Dynamo models; Rotating star; Electrical conductivity; Digital simulation; Rotation speed; Jupiter planet; Rapid rotation; Reviews; Low-mass stars; Scaling laws; High field; Flow velocity; Coriolis acceleration; Lorentz force; Magnetic fields; Energy transfer; Heat transfer; Dipole field; Magnetic properties
• ISSN: 0038-6308; 1572-9672
• DOI: 10.1007/s11214-009-9553-2

Scaling laws for planetary dynamos relate the characteristic magnetic field strength, characteristic flow velocity and other properties to primary quantities such as core size, rotation rate, electrical conductivity and heat flux. Many different scaling laws have been proposed, often relying on the assumption of a balance of Coriolis force and Lorentz force in the dynamo. Their theoretical foundation is reviewed. The advent of direct numerical simulations of planetary dynamos and the ability to perform them for a sufficiently wide range of control parameters allows to test the scaling laws. The results support a magnetic field scaling that is not based on a force balance, but on the energy flux available to balance ohmic dissipation. In its simplest form, it predicts a field strength that is independent of rotation rate and electrical conductivity and proportional to the cubic root of the available energy flux. However, rotation rate controls whether the magnetic field is dipolar or multipolar. Scaling laws for velocity, heat transfer and ohmic dissipation are also discussed. The predictions of the energy-based scaling law agree well with the observed field strength of Earth and Jupiter, but for other planets they are more difficult to test or special pleading is required to explain their field strength. The scaling law also explains the very high field strength of rapidly rotating low-mass stars, which supports its rather general validity.