The Magnetic Universe : Geophysical and Astrophysical Dynamo Theory

Magnetism is one of the most pervasive features of the Universe, with planets, stars and entire galaxies all having associated magnetic fields. All of these fields are generated by the motion of electrically conducting fluids, the so-called dynamo effect. The precise details of what drives the motion, and indeed what the fluid consists of, differ widely though. In this work the authors draw upon their expertise in geophysical and astrophysical MHD to explore some of these phenomena, and describe the similarities and differences between different magnetized objects. They also explain why magnetic fields are crucial in the formation of the stars, and discuss promising experiments currently being designed to study some of the relevant physics in the laboratory. This interdisciplinary approach makes the book appealing to a wide audience in physics, astrophysics and geophysics.

Güenther Ruediger received his PhD from the University of Jena, Germany. He is Professor at the Astrophysical Institute Potsdam, and lectures at the University of Potsdam. He worked at the University of Goettingen, and the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colorado. He is also a former visiting professor at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Rainer Hollerbach is Reader in Applied Mathematics at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He has a PhD in Geophysics from the University of California, San Diego. He recently spent a year in Germany as a Research Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.