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Vorticity and astrophysical magnetism

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Abstract

Viscous resistance to differential rotation causes a current whose magnetic field is proportional to the vorticity of the medium. The magnetic fields of stars and galaxies could arise in this manner, provided that the time scale for development of the field is reasonable. The latter condition (assuming Ohmic rather than synchroton dissipation) requires that the scale length for a galactic field be less than 3×1013 cm. It is suggested that there may be continual generation of field within the core of a vortex of this dimension in the galactic nucleus, the field lines then being carried outwards by expanding plasma. The main observational evidence in connection with solar, stellar and galactic magnetic fields is appraised in the context of the above theory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure and Applied Physics, University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, England

    P. F. Browne

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  1. P. F. Browne
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Browne, P.F. Vorticity and astrophysical magnetism. Astrophys Space Sci 87, 407–423 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00648933

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00648933

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