2016/03/30 by Bertrand C. Barrois, Barrois, Bertrand
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1603.09058
openalex publication_date 2016/03/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Glorified dimensional analysis is used to derive scaling rules for internal and external magnetic field strengths and various time scales. Naive dimensional analysis is inconclusive because of multiple time scales, but physical arguments serve to weed out irrelevant parameters. Time scales can be derived from linearized instability analysis instead of ill-founded assumptions of Magnetic-Archimedean-Coriolis (MAC) balance. Further relationships can be derived from high-level models of coupled main field components and differential rotation. The ratios of the external dipole field to internal magnetic fields and of differential to overall rotation depend on details of the dynamo mechanism.