Numerical simulations of liquid metal experiments on cosmic magnetic fields

Abstract

Cosmic magnetic fields, including the fields of planets, stars, and galaxies, are produced by the hydromagnetic dynamo effect in moving electrically conducting fluids. They also play an active role in cosmic structure formation by enabling outward transport of angular momentum in accretion disks via the magnetorotational instability. The last 10 years have seen tremendous efforts in studying both effects in liquid metal experiments. This paper is focused on the numerical attempts that were undertaken to understand, optimize, and analyze those experiments.