History and results of the Riga dynamo experiments

TL;DR

This paper details the historical development, experimental results, and theoretical understanding of the Riga liquid sodium dynamo experiment, highlighting its significance in studying magnetic field self-excitation.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive account of the Riga dynamo experiment's history, experimental campaigns, and insights into the kinematic and saturated regimes of the dynamo.

Findings

First detection of a self-exciting magnetic eigenfield in 1999

Extensive data on kinematic and saturated dynamo regimes

Comparisons with other laboratory dynamo experiments

Abstract

On 11 November 1999, a self-exciting magnetic eigenfield was detected for the first time in the Riga liquid sodium dynamo experiment. We report on the long history leading to this event, and on the subsequent experimental campaigns which provided a wealth of data on the kinematic and the saturated regime of this dynamo. The present state of the theoretical understanding of both regimes is delineated, and some comparisons with other laboratory dynamo experiments are made.