Experimental observation and characterization of the magnetorotational instability

Differential rotation occurs in conducting flows in accretion disks and planetary cores. In such systems, the magnetorotational instability can arise from coupling Lorentz and centrifugal forces to cause large radial angular momentum fluxes. We present the first experimental observation of the magne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2004-09, Vol.93 (11), p.114502.1-114502.4, Article 114502
Main Authors: SISAN, Daniel R, MUJICA, Nicolas, TILLOTSON, W. Andrew, HUANG, Yi-Min, DORLAND, William, HASSAM, Adil B, ANTONSEN, Thomas M, LATHROP, Daniel P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Fluid dynamics
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Fundamental aspects of astrophysics
Fundamental astronomy and astrophysics. Instrumentation, techniques, and astronomical observations
Geophysics: general, magnetic, electric and thermic methods and properties
Internal geophysics
Magnetohydrodynamics and electrohydrodynamics
Magnetohydrodynamics and plasmas
Origins and models of the magnetic field
dynamo theories
Physics
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Summary:Differential rotation occurs in conducting flows in accretion disks and planetary cores. In such systems, the magnetorotational instability can arise from coupling Lorentz and centrifugal forces to cause large radial angular momentum fluxes. We present the first experimental observation of the magnetorotational instability. Our system consists of liquid sodium between differentially rotating spheres, with an imposed coaxial magnetic field. We characterize the observed patterns, dynamics, and torque increases, and establish that this instability can occur from a hydrodynamic turbulent background.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.93.114502