Turbulent kinematic dynamos in ellipsoids driven by mechanical forcing

Abstract

Dynamo action in planetary cores has been extensively studied in the context of convectively-driven flows. We show in this letter that mechanical forcings, namely tides, libration and precession, are also able to kinematically sustain a magnetic field against ohmic diffusion. Previous attempts published in the literature focused on the laminar response or considered idealized spherical configurations. In contrast, we focus here on the developed turbulent regime and we self-consistently solve the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in an ellipsoidal container. Our results open new avenues of research in dynamo theory where both convection and mechanical forcing can play a role, independently or simultaneously.