Saturn's magnetic field and dynamo theory

Abstract

Observations have shown that Saturn's magnetic field is remarkably axisymmetric and strongly dipolar. On reviewing three possible explanations for the field generation process we view a Braginskii nearly axisymmetric dynamo model as compatible with both the tilt angle and power requirements in a large Saturnian core. If the core is sufficiently small then a mean field dynamo becomes a more likely candidate, whereas if both these models fail an axisymmetric dynamo based on compressible flow may be possible.