Abstract:
The paper is devoted to mathematical and numerical modelling of kinematic
generation of magnetic field, involving large spatial scales,
by a small-scale flow of incompressible electrically conducting fluid featuring
a mirror antisymmetry. Direct numerical simulation demonstrates that such flows
can support a magnetic field generation in presence of two main generation
mechanisms, namely, the magnetic alpha-effect and negative eddy diffusivity.
The magnetic field generation can be described as follows:
$\alpha$-effect creates large-scale field <h$_0$> of
amplitude ${\rm O}(1)$, oscillating on a time scale ${\rm O}(\varepsilon^{-1})$.
Fluctuations {h$_0$} of this field have an amplitude ${\rm O}(1)$.
Small-scale flow creates {1$_0$} with amplitude ${\rm O}(\varepsilon)$.
Interaction of this field with small-scale flow creates an electromotive
force <v$\times${h$_1$}> of amplitude ${\rm O}(\varepsilon)$.
This electromotive force gives rise to an eddy diffusivity that supports
a growth of a mean field <h$_0$> on a time scale ${\rm O}(\varepsilon^{-1})$.
Here $\varepsilon$ is the characteristic spatial scale ratio.
It may be important for applications that the mechanism for generation
considered here does work in a wide range of magnetic Prandtl numbers.
Numerical simulation for a flow, which velocity has a zero kinetic
helicity everywhere in space, shows that the absence of helicity does not
affect magnetic field generation.
Keywords:magnetohydrodynamics, magnetic feld, magnetic $\alpha$-effect, kinematic dynamo, helicity.