The Effect of the Axisymmetric and Non-Axisymmetric Ambient Field on the Magnetic Field of Planets

摘要

At least a minority of planets, moons and other bodies exist within significant external astrophysical fields. The ambient field problem is more relevant to these bodies than the classical dynamo problem, but remains relatively little studied. This paper will concern with the effect of axisymmetric and non-axi- symmetric ambient field on a spherical, axisymmetric dynamo model, through nonlinear calculations with α-quenching feedback. Ambient fields of varying strengths are imposed in the model. The effect of these fields on the generation process is considered, with particular focus on the equatorial symmetry and the time dependence of the solutions.