Small-scale Kazantsev-Kraichnan dynamo in a MHD shell approach

The small-scale magnetic energy generation in a turbulent velocity field is studied by two different approaches. One of them is based on the Kazantsev-Kraichnan model developed for turbulence with short-time velocity correlations, and the other uses the shell model of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, describing the turbulent energy cascade on a finite number of spectral shells. We have found that the injection of weak magnetic field at the initial moment in both models leads to an exponential growth of magnetic energy and tried to determine whether these effects are of the same or different nature. The investigations have shown that the rates of growths and magnetic energy spectra in two approaches can be very much different, which can be attributed to the contradictions of the model assumptions and unknown correlation time. The discussion of these contradictions allows us to formulate a possible explanation, which is likely related to the fact that the small-scale magnetic field generation is under the influence of some spectral subrange, rather than the entire kinetic spectrum. Varying the correlation time of the velocity field and considering the spectral regions, we have determined the range of kinetic energy spectrum responsible for the small-scale dynamo generation.

Automated summary

This study investigates the small-scale magnetic energy generation in a turbulent velocity field using two different approaches. It is found that injecting a weak magnetic field leads to an exponential growth of magnetic energy, but the growth rates and magnetic energy spectra differ significantly between the two approaches, which can be attributed to model assumptions and unknown correlation time. The discussion of these contradictions suggests that the small-scale magnetic field generation is influenced by a specific spectral subrange.