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Solar Nebula Magnetohydrodynamic Dynamos: Kinematic Theory, Dynamical Constraints, and Magnetic Transport of Angular MomentumA hydromagnetic dynamo provides the best mechanism for contemporaneously producing magnetic fields in a turbulent solar nebula. We investigate the solar nebula in the framework of a steady-state accretion disk model and establish the criteria for a viable nebular dynamo. We have found that typically a magnetic gap exists in the nebula, the region where the degree of ionization is too small for the magnetic field to couple to the gas. The location and width of this gap depend on the particular model; the supposition is that gaps cover different parts of the nebula at different evolutionary stages. We have found, from several dynamical constraints, that the generated magnetic field is likely to saturate at a strength equal to equipartition with the kinetic energy of turbulence. Maxwell stress arising from a large-scale magnetic field may significantly influence nebular structure, and Maxwell stress due to small-scale fields can actually dominate other stresses in the inner parts of the nebula. We also argue that the bulk of nebular gas, within the scale height from the midplane, is stable against Balbus-Hawley instability.
Document ID
19970022027
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Stepinski, Tomasz F.
(Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX United States)
Reyes-Ruiz, Mauricio
(Rice Univ. Houston, TX United States)
Vanhala, Harri A. T.
(Oulu Univ. Finland)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
May 12, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: ICARUS
Publisher: Academic Press, Inc.
Volume: 106
ISSN: 0019-1035
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:204467
LPI-Contrib-811
NASA-CR-204467
Meeting Information
Meeting: Planet Formation
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: January 1, 1992
Accession Number
97N72075
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASw-4574
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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