Phase VI: Development of the Core Fluid Dynamics Laboratory at UCLA

该项目扩大了地球熔融铁核产生地磁场过程的实验-理论模拟领域。它提供了表征对流湍流的基本实验室数据。该项目的成果将有助于对地球核心流动的先进理论进行基准测试和验证，并建立行星发电机发电的预测模型。这项工作将有助于建立地核和其他行星发电机、流体湍流、太阳和恒星对流区以及海洋和大气动力学的模型。该项目还将为三名研究生，至少两名本科生和一名博士后研究员提供实验室实验，数值和理论建模方面的培训。 该项目传播一套可供所有年龄和背景的学生使用的DIY实验工具的信息（https：//diplomics.github.io/）。该项目包括三个主要任务。在任务1中，研究人员将在水和硅油中进行旋转对流实验，以阐明湍流核心对流的原理。对于任务2，该项目将继续进行一系列液态金属对流实验，并通过紧密耦合的数值模拟进行增强。这些实验的重点是对湍流磁转对流中的速度场进行首次超声多普勒测量，以量化和诊断模拟地球核心流体极地包裹中发生的复杂动态。任务3将通过开发一种新的抛物面自由表面对流装置，对地核低纬度地区发生的旋转对流进行实验室-数值模拟。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project expands the realm of experimental- theoretical simulations of the processes occurring in Earth’s molten iron core that generate the geomagnetic field. It provides fundamental laboratory data characterizing convective turbulence. The outputs of this project will help to benchmark and validate advanced theories of the Earth's core flow and to build predictive models of planetary dynamo generation. This work will be useful to models of Earth's core and other planetary dynamos, fluid turbulence, solar and stellar convection zones, as well as oceanic and atmospheric dynamics. This project also will provide training in laboratory experimentation, numerical and theoretical modeling to three graduate students, at least two undergraduates and one postdoctoral researcher. The project disseminating information on a set of do-it-yourself experimental tools that can be used with students of all ages and backgrounds (https://diynamics.github.io/).This project is comprised of three main tasks. In Task 1, the researchers will carry out rotating convection experiments in water and silicone oils that are elucidating principles about turbulent core convective flows. For Task 2, the project will continue a series of liquid metal convection experiments, enhanced by closely-coupled numerical simulations. These experiments will focus on making the first ultrasonic Doppler measurements of velocity fields in turbulent magnetostrophic convection, to quantify and diagnose the complex dynamics occurring in a simulated polar parcel of Earth’s core fluid. Task 3 will carry out coupled laboratory-numerical simulations of rotating convection occurring at low latitudes in Earth’s core via the development of a new parabolic free surface convection device.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.