Abstract: Planetary magnetic fields are ubiquitous in the Solar System. These fields are generated by the motion of an electrically conducting fluid within the interiors of the planets. For the Earth, turbulence in the liquid iron outer core has sustained the geomagnetic field for at least 4 billion years. Similar turbulent fluid systems are present in most planets, as well as stars. These flows are thought to be strongly influenced by system rotation (i.e. the Coriolis force) and the magnetic fields that they induce, yielding a unique form of turbulence that is both challenging to investigate and dynamically rich. I will give an overview of what we know about natural dynamos, and how computation and theory are being used to better understand their dynamics.==========
Coffee, tea and cookies will be available in G1B31 (across from G1B20) from 3:30 - 3:50 p.m.
Physics Colloquia are held Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. in the JILA Auditorium.