Jonathan Aurnou, UCLA

Topic: "Convective Turbulence in Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Systems"  (Video)

Abstract: Rotating bodies are found ubiquitously throughout the universe. Furthermore, bodies from the size of large asteroids up to galaxies are all known to be capable of generating their own magnetic fields, via turbulent fluid dynamo processes. In this colloquium, I will discuss our present understanding of rotating convective turbulence and rotating magnetoconvective turbulence, which provide the underlying framework by which we interpret dynamo processes occurring in geophysical and astrophysical settings. In particular, the coupled laboratory-numerical experiments that we have carried out over the past decade will be discussed. Finally, I will point out the severe lack of data for strongly turbulent conditions and present the preliminary design of the experiment we are fabricating to address this issue.