Bistability and chaos in Taylor-Green dynamo

Abstract

Using direct numerical simulations we study dynamo action under the Taylor-Green forcing with Prandtl number less than one. We observe bistability with a weak magnetic field branch and a strong magnetic field branch. Both the dynamo branches undergo subcritical dynamo transition. We also observe host of dynamo states including constant, periodic, quasiperiodic, and chaotic magnetic fields. One of the chaotic state originates through a quasiperiodic route with phase locking, while another chaotic attractor appears to follow Newhouse-Ruelle-Takens route to chaos. We also observe intermittent transitions among quasiperiodic and chaotic states for a given Taylor-Green forcing.