Experiments on Convection and Turbulence in Earth's Core

Olson 0105238该项目包括一系列实验室流体动力学实验，旨在模拟在地球液态外核中产生地磁场的重要过程。一组实验将在旋转的半球形流体壳中进行，并旨在模拟自引力，旋转，球形几何形状的核心中的热对流。这里的目的是描绘旋转球壳对流，可用于解释地震和地磁图像的核心的那些特性。第二系列实验室实验将在有和没有旋转和外部施加磁场的影响的情况下，对凝固镓铟合金中的热化学对流进行研究。镓铟合金类似于外核的富铁合金，凝固代表了地球固体内核的生长。这些实验的目的是测试重力发电机模型的假设，这被广泛认为是地球发电机最有可能的能源，并确定湍流流体运动的外核环境中的属性。

Olson 0105238 This project consists of a series laboratory fluid dynamical experiments designed to simulate processes that are important in the generation of the geomagnetic field in Earth's liquid outer core. One set of experiments will be conducted in rotating hemispherical shells of fluid, and are intended to model thermal convection in the self-gravitating, rotating, spherical geometry of the core. The purpose here is to delineate those characteristics of rotating spherical shell convection that can be used to interpret seismic and geomagnetic images of the core. A second series of laboratory experiments will be conducted on thermochemical convection in solidifying gallium-indium alloys, with and without the influences of rotation and externally applied magnetic fields. The gallium-indium alloy is analogous to the iron-rich alloy of the outer core, and the solidification represents the growth of Earth's solid inner core. These experiments are designed to test the assumptions of the gravitationally powered dynamo model, which is widely regarded as the most likely energy source for the geodynamo, and to determine the properties of turbulent fluid motion in the environment of the outer core.