Run-away transition to turbulent strong-field dynamo

TL;DR

This paper investigates the transition from weak to strong magnetic field dynamos in planetary and stellar interiors, revealing the role of subharmonic instabilities and modal interactions in this nonlinear process.

Contribution

It introduces a data-driven modal analysis approach to understand the physical mechanisms behind dynamo transitions, highlighting the role of subharmonic instabilities.

Findings

Subcritical transition facilitated by subharmonic instability.

Identification of key modes influencing the transition.

Modal basis for reduced-order dynamo models.

Abstract

Planets and stars are able to generate coherent large-scale magnetic fields by helical convective motions in their interiors. This process, known as hydromagnetic dynamo, involves nonlinear interaction between the flow and magnetic field. Nonlinearity facilitates existence of bi-stable dynamo branches: a weak field branch where the magnetic field is not strong enough to enter into the leading order force balance in the momentum equation at large flow scales, and a strong field branch where the field enters into this balance. The transition between the two with enhancement of convection can be either subcritical or supercritical, depending on the strength of magnetic induction. In both cases, it is accompanied by topological changes in velocity field across the system; however, it is yet unclear how these changes are produced. In this work, we analyse transitions between the weak and strong dynamo regimes using a data-driven approach, separating different physical effects induced by dynamically active flow scales. Using Dynamic Mode Decomposition, we decompose the dynamo data from direct numerical simulations into different components (modes), identify the ones relevant for transition, and estimate relative magnitudes of their contributions Lorentz force and induction term. Our results suggest that subcritical transition to a strong dynamo is facilitated by a subharmonic instability, allowing for a more efficient mode of convection, and provide a modal basis for reduced-order models of this transition.