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  • © 2013

Solar and Stellar Dynamos

Saas-Fee Advanced Course 39 Swiss Society for Astrophysics and Astronomy

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  • Provides a didactic presentation of the theory of stellar magnetic fields
  • Monographic synthesis of lectures given at Saas-Fee Advanced Course 39
  • Presents a volume in an internationally highly regarded lecture notes series
  • Comes with appendices providing material which is useful in working with magnetohydrodynamics and dynamo theory
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Saas-Fee Advanced Course (SAASFEE, volume 39)

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Table of contents (5 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. Magnetohydrodynamics

    • Paul Charbonneau
    Pages 1-35
  3. Decay and Amplification of Magnetic Fields

    • Paul Charbonneau
    Pages 37-86
  4. Dynamo Models of the Solar Cycle

    • Paul Charbonneau
    Pages 87-151
  5. Fluctuations, Intermittency and Predictivity

    • Paul Charbonneau
    Pages 153-185
  6. Stellar Dynamos

    • Paul Charbonneau
    Pages 187-214
  7. Back Matter

    Pages 215-237

About this book

Astrophysical dynamos are at the heart of cosmic magnetic fields of a wide range of scales, from planets and stars to entire galaxies. This book presents a thorough, step-by-step introduction to solar and stellar dynamos. Looking first at the ultimate origin of cosmic seed magnetic fields, the antagonists of field amplification are next considered: resistive decay, flux expulsion, and flows ruled out by anti-dynamo theorems. Two kinematic flows that can act as dynamos are then studied: the Roberts cell and the CP-flow. Mean-field electrodynamics and derivation of the mean-field dynamo equations lead to the alpha Omega-dynamo, the flux transport dynamo, and dynamos based on the Babcock-Leighton mechanism. Alternatives to the mean-field theory are also presented, as are global MHD dynamo simulations. Fluctuations and grand minima in the solar cycle are discussed in terms of dynamo modulations through stochastic forcing and nonlinear effects. The book concludes with an overview of the major challenges in understanding stellar magnetic fields and their evolution in terms of various dynamo models, global MHD simulations, and fossil fields. Each chapter is accompanied by an annotated bibliography, guiding the readers to the relevant technical literature, which may lead them to carry out their own research in the field of dynamo theory.

Authors, Editors and Affiliations

  • Kiepenheuer-Institut für Sonnenphysik, Freiburg, Germany

    Oskar Steiner

  • , Département de physique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

    Paul Charbonneau

About the editor

Paul Charbonneau is a professor in the astrophysics group of the physics department of the University of Montréal. He has been working on solar activity and its possible influence on the Earth climate.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access