Generation of bursting magnetic fields by nonperiodic torsional flows

A mechanism for the cyclic generation of bursts of magnetic fields by nonlinear torsional flows of complex time dependence but very simple spatial structure is described. These flows were obtained numerically as axisymmetric solutions of convection in internally heated rotating fluid spheres in the Boussinesq approximation. They behave as repeated transients, which start with nearly periodic oscillations of the velocity field of slowly increasing amplitude. This regime is followed by a chaotic fast increase and a final decrease of the amplitude of, at least, one order of magnitude. The magnetic field decays due to the magnetic diffusion during the regular oscillations, but it grows in the form of bursts during the intervals of irregular time dependence of the velocity. The magnetic field is strongly localized in spirals, with spatial- and temporal-dependent intensity.
Postprint (published version)