Saturation of magnetorotational instability through magnetic field generation

F. Ebrahimi; S. C. Prager; D. D. Schnack

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/698/1/233

Saturation of magnetorotational instability through magnetic field generation

F. Ebrahimi, S. C. Prager, D. D. Schnack

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20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The saturation mechanism of magnetorotational instability (MRI) is examined through analytical quasi-linear theory and through nonlinear computation of a single mode in a rotating disk. We find that large-scale magnetic field is generated through the α-effect (the correlated product of velocity and magnetic field fluctuations) and causes the MRI mode to saturate. If the large-scale plasma flow is allowed to evolve, the mode can also saturate through its flow relaxation. In astrophysical plasmas, for which the flow cannot relax because of gravitational constraints, the mode saturates through field generation only.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	233-241
Number of pages	9
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	698
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/698/1/233
State	Published - 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Accretion, accretion disks
Instabilities
MHD
Magnetic fields

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10.1088/0004-637X/698/1/233

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abstract = "The saturation mechanism of magnetorotational instability (MRI) is examined through analytical quasi-linear theory and through nonlinear computation of a single mode in a rotating disk. We find that large-scale magnetic field is generated through the α-effect (the correlated product of velocity and magnetic field fluctuations) and causes the MRI mode to saturate. If the large-scale plasma flow is allowed to evolve, the mode can also saturate through its flow relaxation. In astrophysical plasmas, for which the flow cannot relax because of gravitational constraints, the mode saturates through field generation only.",

keywords = "Accretion, accretion disks, Instabilities, MHD, Magnetic fields",

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AU - Ebrahimi, F.

AU - Prager, S. C.

AU - Schnack, D. D.

PY - 2009

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N2 - The saturation mechanism of magnetorotational instability (MRI) is examined through analytical quasi-linear theory and through nonlinear computation of a single mode in a rotating disk. We find that large-scale magnetic field is generated through the α-effect (the correlated product of velocity and magnetic field fluctuations) and causes the MRI mode to saturate. If the large-scale plasma flow is allowed to evolve, the mode can also saturate through its flow relaxation. In astrophysical plasmas, for which the flow cannot relax because of gravitational constraints, the mode saturates through field generation only.

AB - The saturation mechanism of magnetorotational instability (MRI) is examined through analytical quasi-linear theory and through nonlinear computation of a single mode in a rotating disk. We find that large-scale magnetic field is generated through the α-effect (the correlated product of velocity and magnetic field fluctuations) and causes the MRI mode to saturate. If the large-scale plasma flow is allowed to evolve, the mode can also saturate through its flow relaxation. In astrophysical plasmas, for which the flow cannot relax because of gravitational constraints, the mode saturates through field generation only.

KW - Accretion, accretion disks

KW - Instabilities

KW - MHD

KW - Magnetic fields

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JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

ER -

Saturation of magnetorotational instability through magnetic field generation

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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