The role of curvature and stretching in dynamo plasmas

TL;DR

This paper investigates how curvature and stretching influence magnetic dynamo action in plasmas, demonstrating that non-stretched flows cannot sustain fast dynamos, while specific curvature and stretching conditions can enable slow dynamo behavior.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the roles of curvature and stretching in dynamo plasmas, extending Vishik's theorem to flux tubes and illustrating conditions for slow and non-dynamo modes.

Findings

Non-stretched flux tubes cannot sustain fast dynamos.

Curvature and stretching are essential for fast dynamo action.

Folding can cancel magnetic fields, inhibiting dynamo growth.

Abstract

Vishik's antidynamo theorem is applied to non-stretched twisted magnetic flux tube in Riemannian space. Marginal or slow dynamos along curved (folded), torsioned (twisted) and non-stretching flux tubes plasma flows are obtained}. Riemannian curvature of twisted magnetic flux tube is computed in terms of the Frenet curvature in the thin tube limit. It is shown that, for non-stretched filaments fast dynamo action in diffusive case cannot be obtained, in agreement with Vishik's argument, that fast dynamo cannot be obtained in non-stretched flows. \textbf{In this case a non-uniform stretching slow dynamo is obtained}.\textbf{An example is given which generalizes plasma dynamo laminar flows, recently presented by Wang et al [Phys Plasmas (2002)], in the case of low magnetic Reynolds number $Re_{m}\ge{210}$. Curved and twisting Riemannian heliotrons, where non-dynamo modes are found even when stretching is presented, shows that the simple presence of stretching is not enough for the existence of dynamo action. Folding is equivalent to Riemann curvature and can be used to cancell magnetic fields, not enhancing the dynamo action. In this case non-dynamo modes are found for certain values of torsion or Frenet curvature (folding) in the spirit of anti-dynamo theorem. It is shown that curvature and stretching are fundamental for the existence of fast dynamos in plasmas.