A Dynamo Simulation Generating Saturn-Like Small Magnetic Dipole Tilts

Among planetary dynamos, the magnetic field of Saturn stands out in its exceptional level of axisymmetry. One of its peculiar features is that the magnetic dipole mode is tilted with respect to the planetary rotation axis by only approximate to 0.007 degrees or less. Numerical dynamo simulations performed in this context have had great difficulty in producing such small dipole tilt angles without introducing ad hoc ingredients such as a latitudinally varying heat flux pattern in the outer layers or stably stratified layers (SSLs). Here we present a numerical dynamo simulation that generates a highly axisymmetric dynamo with a dipole tilt of about approximate to 0.0008 degrees on average. The model consists of a deep dynamo layer and an overlying low-conductivity layer but without any SSLs. We highlight a novel mechanism where strong differential rotation generated in the atmospheric layer penetrates into the dynamo region, helping to maintain a very small magnetic dipole tilt. Plain Language Summary Saturn's dipole-dominant magnetic field exhibits a very peculiar feature: the dipole component of the planetary magnetic field is tilted by less than approximate to 0.007 degrees with respect to the planetary spin axis. Numerical simulations performed in this context suggest that if a spatial heat-flux variation is imposed, along with a stably stratified region, on top of an active dynamo layer, then small dipole tilt values can be realized. Here we present a model where extremely small dipole tilt values can be achieved without these ad hoc ingredients. Our simulations demonstrate that dynamo theory allows extremely small dipole tilt values in a relatively simple model configuration.

Automated summary

Saturn's magnetic field is highly axisymmetric, with a very small tilt angle of the magnetic dipole component. Numerical simulations suggest that small dipole tilt values can be realized by introducing spatial heat-flux variation and stably stratified layers on top of an active dynamo layer. This study presents a simplified model that achieves extremely small dipole tilt values without these ad hoc ingredients.