Generation of multiscale magnetic field by parity-invariant time-periodic flows

Abstract

We study generation of magnetic fields involving large spatial scales by time- and space-periodic small-scale parity-invariant flows. The anisotropic magnetic eddy diffusivity tensor is calculated by the standard procedure involving expansion of magnetic modes and their growth rates in power series in the scale ratio. Our simulations, conducted for flows with random harmonic composition and exponentially decaying energy spectra, demonstrate that enlargement of the spatial scale of magnetic field is beneficial for generation by time-periodic flows. However, they turn out, in general, to be less efficient dynamos, than steady flows.