# Dynamo Theory, Nonlinear Magnetic Fields, and the Euler Potentials

Authors: Bob Osano
Journal: Advances in Astronomy
 (2018)

---

## Abstract

The debate on the role of Euler potentials (EP),α∇β, in the dynamo theory is a long-standing one. It is known that the cross-product of gradients of two the potentials may represent magnetic fields lines. However, 2D and 3D dynamo hydromagnetic simulations suggest that their utility as analogues of magnetic field potential is restricted. This raises questions about their utility in the broader context of magneto-genesis and dynamo theories. We reexamine this and find that a reinterpretation of such potentials offers a new insight into the role EP may play in the general evolution of magnetic fields.


---

## Body

## 1. Introduction

Magnetic fields seem to permeate much of our visible universe. These fields are found in stars, galaxies, interstellar medium, and even clusters of galaxies. Such fields are detected via synchrotron emission, polarisation, or Faraday rotation in the radio frequency and appear between 0.2 and 10 GHz [1]. Studies of cosmic magnetic fields have a long history and are driven by the need to explain what is observed and the desire to know what role magnetic fields play in the formation and evolution of cosmic structures ranging from stars and galaxies to superclusters and even the universe. We do not have a clear understanding of how all magnetic fields arise or how they evolve. Studies of cosmic magnetic fields are often classified as either (i) dealing with the origin, i.e.,magneto-genesis, or (ii) dealing with growth or amplification, say, via adynamo mechanism.It is thought that original magnetic fields, or seed fields as they are commonly called, may have their origin in phase transition in the early universe [2, 3], or in the cosmological structure formation [4], or in the first stars and black holes [5], or in the first supernova [6], or even as a result of fluctuations in the gravitational field [7]. The authors of [8] gave an argument that places severe constraints on magneto-genesis theories of the early universe. They provide proof that small-scale magnetic fields are unable to outlive the prerecombination era dominated by high resistivity due to recurrent electron-photon interactions. They arrive at the conclusion that cosmic magnetic fields generated before recombination had to have larger than the horizon coherence cell in order to survive recombination epoch or cosmic magnetic fields only emerging after recombination era. The explanation is that diffusion of magnetic fields is hampered by distances greater than the horizon which forces the cells to become subhorizon after recombination. Whichever way magneto-genesis occurs, the resulting fields need sustaining for them to be detectable. This is thought to be primarily via a dynamo action [9, 10].This article deals mainly withdynamo effect and Euler potentials. Research on dynamo action has a long history that goes back to the work of [11] where a homogeneous dynamo mechanism was proposed as a possible source of magnetic fields observed in the sunspots. The proposal remained largely ignored particularly because of the results published soon after in [12] which showed that it was impossible to generate axisymmetric or two-dimensional magnetic fields via the homogeneous dynamo process. This became known asCowling’s theorem. It was not until after [13, 14] were published that the ideas in [11] were salvaged. Whereas Cowling showed that it was not possible to generate axisymmetric magnetic fields, the restriction did not apply to the nonaxisymmetric ones. Backus [13] and Herzenberg [14] demonstrated that nonaxisymmetric fields could indeed be generated via a homogeneous dynamo. In effect, they presented arguments for the threshold necessary for the dynamo action. These and other works on the threshold are classified asbounding theorems as they provide lower bounds for this kind of dynamo. The questions then changed from whether or not a dynamo action could take place to what threshold was needed to induce the action.The dynamo term in the magnetic induction equation is the term∇×(U×B), where U is the velocity and B is the magnetic flux. It is clear that the larger this term, the greater the amplification of the magnetic field. Different forms of bounding theorems appear in literature giving special cases and designed for specific problems. In general, the velocity field has to be strong enough in order to stretch the magnetic fields to the point where they overcome Ohmic dissipation [13, 15–20]. Most of these analyses are mathematical, but mathematical analysis alone without experimentation can only yield a limited understanding of the dynamo mechanism. On the other hand, the likelihood of replicating some of the extreme conditions needed for dynamos is slim. Computer simulations have emerged as a powerful alternative and one that is contributing to greater understanding dynamos. Simulations also offer a platform for examining magnetic analogues [21–24] or testing predictions that result from any new formulation of electrodynamics, for example, the formulation given in [25]. In the remaining sections, we revisit the theoretical basis for the dynamo action and comment on Euler potentials in relation to the evolution of magnetic fields. Simulations related to Euler potentials have recently appeared [26–28].


## 2. Induction Equation: The Standard Approach

The starting point for most discussions of magnetic induction is the set of Maxwell’s equations, which in MKS units are(1)∂B∂t=-∇×E,∇·B=0(2)ϵ0μ0∂E∂t=∇×B-μ0J,∇·E=4ρϵ0where E is the electric field, J is the current density, and μ0 is the magnetic permeability such that the permittivity of free space ϵ0=1/c2μ0.In the present context, a further ingredient necessary for establishing the primary equation is Ohm’s law. Assuming a plasma fluid, the standard form of this law has the structure(3)E+U×B=ηJ+1neJ×B-1ne∇p,where we have neglected the time variation of the current density ∂J/∂t. η is the magnetic diffusivity and expresses the relationship between electric field, moving charges of a given density and a magnetic flux. n is the electron number density and e is the charge. Now consider the case where the Hall’s term (J×B/ne) may be neglected and where the gradient of pressure term may be replaced by the product of a scalar potential and the gradient of a different scalar potential, a Euler potential term (we will return to this correspondence later in the article). The standard approach is to choose a time scale in which the displacement current can be neglected. This implies that the time derivative of the electric field is set to zero leading to ∇×B=J and since E=-U×B+ηJ from our modified Ohm’s law, it is easy to see that the evolution equation for the magnetic flux is given by the following.(4)dBdt=∇×U×B-η∇×B.The U×B is the usualinduction term. Traditionally, the velocity term stretches the field thereby enhancing its strength. The useful form of (17) is as follows.(5)dBdt=∇×U×B+η∇2BLet us now consider the modification of the induction equation.


## 3. Induction Equation and Euler Potentials

The Coulomb gauge is the cornerstone of Maxwell equations and we need to understand it in relation to vector potentials. In particular, the magnetic vector potentialA (hereafter AMP) is chosen such that it obeys the Coulomb gauge; i.e., ∇·AMP=0; otherwise one can add a gradient of any scalar ∇Ξ to obtain a variation of the vector potential A!=AM+∇Ξ. The problem here lies in the fact that ∇×A!=∇×AMP=B. Any spurious gauge function such as Ξ does not lead to a magnetic field but has the consequence that ∇·A!/=0, other than special cases as we shall demonstrate. Therefore, let us go back to the main point of this article which has to do with the dynamo equation in the presence of scalar functions. A good starting point is with Euler potentials [26, 29, 30]. It was argued in [26] that a magnetic fieldB, which we denote by BEP, could be represented by the Euler potentials denoted by (α, β) such that(6)∇α×∇β≡BEP,with the consequence that every magnetic field line would be labeled by these two variables. A variation of these potentials with respect to time provides a velocityU representing the movement of magnetic field lines with the consequence that a particle moving with this velocity maintains the properties of the potentials. In particular,(7)∂α∂t+U·∇α=0(8)∂β∂t+U·∇β=0.Since the direction of motion is perpendicular to the magnetic field line,U.BEP=0. Multiplying (7) by ∇β and (8) by ∇α, subtracting the resulting equation, and applying the vector identity ∇β(U.∇α)-∇α(U.∇β)=U×(∇α×∇β), the author of [26] showed the following. (9)U×∇α×∇β=∇α∂β∂t-∇β∂α∂tTaking the curl of (9) and using a vector identity, they were able to show that(10)∂BEP∂t=∇×U×BEPwhich is the dynamo term in the induction equation but also give the definition of field like velocity [31–33]. This amounts to the conjecture on existence of fast dynamos, where the field growth is not dependent on diffusion. However, as shown in [34], conservation of magnetic helicity severely restricts fast dynamos. For a more general discussion, we seek a formulation that includes diffusivity. The Euler scalars are conserved along field lines such that they allow for the description of magnetic field lines. The field lines can be thought of as given by the intersections of two surfaces defined by the gradients of the potentials. In particular, we define two scalar potential functions α and β with the properties ∇α.BEP=0=∇β·BEP. In effect, both gradient scalars are orthogonal to the field lines and in addition are orthogonal to each other such that(11)∇α×∇β=ζBEP,where the coefficient ζ is a pure scalar quantity which may depend on time. This looks structurally like the α-effect in the mean-field theory [35]. Another way of looking at this is that we have a vector potential function AEP=α∇β, which allows the definition(12)ζBEP=∇×AEP=∇×α∇β=∇α×∇β.Of course, one would like to know how this affects gauge choice. To be specific, we would like to know if this new vector potential function, α∇β, obeys the Coulomb gauge condition and if not what physically motivated restrictions would lead to it. The divergence of the new scalar potential function is as follows.(13)∇·AEP=∇·α∇β=∇α·∇β+α∇2βWe need to consider divergence theorem; to be more explicit we need the Green’s identity of the first kind, in order to resolve the right-hand side of this equation. On applying divergence theorem to the AMP=α∇β, where β is twice differentiable, we obtain(14)∭V∇·α∇βdV=∭Vα∇2β+∇α·∇βdV=∬Cα∇β.dSwhere V is a typical volume and C the boundary of enclosing V. The special subcase of (14) is when ∇β is orthogonal to the oriented surfaceS. This, together with the fact that the volume V can be made arbitrarily small, leads to ∇·(α∇β)=0. We note that in general ∇β.dS≠0. Given our orthogonal requirement, we now have a vector potential function that is defined by two scalar functions. Clearly, the rate at which the magnetic vector potential AMP grows will be modified to(15)dAMPdt=U×∇×AMP+AEP+η∇AMP-∇φwhere η is the coefficient of diffusion and φ is any general scalar potential function. Taking the curl of (15) and using relevant vector identities, we get(16)dBdt=∇×U×B+η∇2B+∇α×∇βwhere again B=∇×AMP. It is clear that this equation can be derived beginning with the idea that charges experience the effect of a vector potential α∇β leading to a modified Ohm’s law of the form E+U×B+α∇β=ηJ. Again, a time scale is chosen allowing the displacement current to be neglected. It is easy to show that form of this equation leads to an evolution equation for the magnetic flux given by the following.(17)dBdt=∇×U×B+α∇β-η∇×B.The U×B is the usualinduction term. It would appear that the term α∇β plays a role complementary to the inductive term. The velocity term is known to stretch the field thereby enhancing its strength. In contrast, the Euler term seems to affect the field via the cross-product of the gradients of the two scalars. Could this geometric effect lead to an enhancement of the field? Indeed, it is the role that this term plays that we seek to understand. The useful form of (17) is as follows.(18)dBdt=∇×U×B+η∇2B+∇α×∇βRecent developments related to Euler potentials are worth pointing out. In [27], ∇×AMP is compared to ∇×AEP where artificial viscosity is used in simulations involving the latter.This follows the extensive application ofAEP in the SPH approach [36, 37] to structure formation. It is found in [27] that the ∇×AEP compares with ∇×AMP when η=0 and that the introduction of η/=0 leads to discrepancies. The conclusion is that AEP and AMP cannot be used interchangeably, in particular that the growth of ∇×AEP cannot be ascribed to a dynamo effect. Be that as it may, (17) suggests that AEP may play a role in the amplification of ∇×AMP, which is not in contradiction to [27]. But what other role might this potential play? In studies of theself-consistent or thedynamic dynamo problem, the momentum equation provides the necessary ingredient for a time varying velocity.In particular,(19)ρDUDt=-∇p+J×B+∑f+FviscwhereD/Dt =∂/∂t + U.∇ is the Lagrangian derivative. U is the bulk velocity of the fluid, ρ is fluid density,p is fluid pressure, and Fvisc is fluid viscous force, while Σf is the sum of all body forces acting on the fluid. Equations (17) and (19), with various modifications and physical considerations, usually form the basis of most magnetic dynamo studies. We investigate the usefulness of (18) and (19).


## 4. Particle Drift in Ionosphere-Magnetosphere Coupling: Application

From the discussion above, it appears that EP representation could be used as the analogue of magnetic fields. Indeed, this is advantageous for several reasons. Firstly, the representation is automatically divergence-free (∇·(∇×α∇β)=0) and, secondly, the field lines can be directly visualized. These advantages have led to new understanding of magnetic fields. Consider the case where Hall’s term is nonnegligible (J×B/=0) due to a nonvanishing Lorentz force in the momentum equation. In their discussion of mathematical modelling of magnetic magnetospheric convection and its coupling to the ionosphere, the authors of [38] showed that the momentum conservation equation for slowly moving plasma, in comparison to the thermal speed, is given by(20)∇p=J×B,where the conventionc = 1 has been used. This is clearly the case as can be seen from (19) when all body and viscous forces are neglected, and the velocity is constant. Taking the cross ofB with (20) and requiring thatJ.B = 0 yield the isotropic orthogonal component of the current density.(21)J⊥=B×∇pB2As discussed in [38] the current density in (21) is in general not divergence-free. The total current has to be divergence-free. It is easy to show (as was done in [38]) that under magnetospheric constraints the charge accumulation resulting from the divergence of the right-hand side of (21) leads to an electric current that changes on the timescale similar to that of the displacement current in Maxwell’s equations. Mathematically,(22)∇·J⊥=B×∇B·∇pB3+∇p·∇×BB2-B·∇×pB2the last term is clearly zero from vector identities, while the second term on the right vanishes when the pressure gradient is perpendicular to ∇×B. This leads to Vasyliunas’ convective current equation representing the derivative of J|| along the magnetic field direction and is given by the following.(23)∂∂lJ∥B=2B×∇B·∇pB4This equation provides a computational scheme for examining electrodynamics in the coupling of ionosphere and magnetosphere. The authors of [39] have used a variant of this equation; namely,(24)J∥nBn-J∥sBs=b·∇V×∇pBwhereJ||nand J||s are the Birkeland current densities along the magnetic field direction in the north and the south ionosphere. b is a unit vector along the magnetic field line, whileV =ds/Bis the volume of a unit magnetic flux tube and p is the magnetospheric particle pressure. Implementing (24) in computer simulations is greatly aided by adopting the EP as the ansatz for the magnetic field. In this regard, substituting (11) into (24) yields the easier-to-implement scalar expression(25)J∥nBn-J∥sBs=∂V∂α∂p∂β-∂p∂α∂V∂β,where the right-hand side can be evaluated anywhere along the field line. Some comment is required about the use of Euler potentials in this approximation. In this case (11) is used as an analogue of magnetic field flux leading to the substitution. This differs from our treatment where EP does not replaceB but contributes to it via the modified Ohm’s law. Nevertheless, the form that is given in (24) allows one to study magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling as was demonstrated in [39]. There are other areas where EP has proved to be useful in studies of x-shape magnetic fields [40]. There will undoubtedly be more areas where EP are used and therefore a continued examination of EP is useful. We have seen that EP can be used as ansatz for magnetic field flux, but this has a limitation as pointed out in [27, 41]. We have introduced EP via the modified Ohm’s law. We want to further examine this.


## 5. Pressure, Density, and Euler Potentials

Returning to (14) and the ensuing discussion, α∇β looks structurally like ∇p/ρ (the Biermann battery term) suggesting the correspondence:(26)∇α×∇β=∇p×∇ρρ2where p and ρ are electron pressure and density, respectively. The implied correspondence in (26) calls for further analysis. It is suggestive of the EP potential role in momentum (19), probably coming in as a body force divided by the density. It is conceivable that in an idealized fluid flow, density and pressure may exhibit properties similar to Euler potentials and thus raising the prospect of more complex interactions between fluid and magnetic field lines, over and above the back reaction via Lorentz force. However, (17) and correspondence (26) show that if the position of the two gradients of scalars is switched, this term acts as a diffusive term. This may partly account for the results obtained in [42]. We have only dealt with a simplified case of fluid flow where the Lorentz force is switched off because our interest is in examining how Euler potentials affect the threshold for dynamo action and not assessing the long-term contribution to the evolution of magnetic fields.


## 6. Discussion and Conclusion

In this rather inquisitive article, we have delved into the subject of the dynamo theory. Our interest was piqued by the need to reexamine the basis for dynamo theory in a flow where Euler potentials are present. We have done four things.(1) In deriving the induction equation, we find that the following form of Ohm’s law E=-U×B+ηJ-α∇β is inevitable.Theα∇β acts as a source for electric currents and needs further investigations. (2) We have also shown that electron density and pressure variables are natural candidates for Euler potentials for flows in which∇p and∇ρ are conserved but not parallel. In fact, the ∇p/ρ is itself a vector potential from which magnetic flux originates. The curl of this vector potential is the basis for Biermann battery term in magneto-genesis. (3) In the appendix, we show that Backus theorem for magnetic induction holds even when Euler potentials are considered. (4) We find that indeed the strength of the strain tensor required for the dynamo action to kick in would be lower when the effect of such potentials is considered. Simulations comparing theEP method and theA approaches were performed in [27], where it was found that two potentials exhibit different growth patterns when diffusivity was included. This suggests that the two potentials are not interchangeable but complementary.



---

*Source: 4823494-2018-10-10.xml*