Statistical analysis of magnetic field reversals in laboratory dynamo and in paleomagnetic measurements

TL;DR

This paper investigates the statistical properties of magnetic field reversals in both laboratory dynamo experiments and paleomagnetic data, revealing long-range correlations that challenge the assumption of a simple Poisson process.

Contribution

It demonstrates that both laboratory and paleomagnetic reversals exhibit long-range correlations, indicating complex underlying dynamo processes beyond simple Poisson models.

Findings

Reversals show departure from Poisson statistics due to clustering.

Both data sets exhibit long-range temporal correlations.

Results suggest complex dynamo dynamics influence reversal patterns.

Abstract

Statistical properties of the temporal distribution of polarity reversals of the geomagnetic field are commonly assumed to be a realization of a renewal Poisson process with a variable rate. However, it has been recently shown that the polarity reversals strongly depart from a local Poisson statistics, because of temporal clustering. Such clustering arises from the presence of long-range correlations in the underlying dynamo process. Recently achieved laboratory dynamo also shows reversals. It is shown here that laboratory and paleomagnetic data are both characterized by the presence of long-range correlations.