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

这个项目扩展了实验-理论模拟地球熔融铁芯产生地磁场过程的领域。它提供了基本的实验室数据表征对流湍流。该项目的产出将有助于对地核流动的先进理论进行基准测试和验证，并建立行星发电机产生的预测模型。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。该项目传播一套自己动手实验工具的信息，可供所有年龄和背景的学生使用（https://diynamics.github.io/）。这个项目由三个主要任务组成。在Task 1中，研究人员将在水和硅油中进行旋转对流实验，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来加强。这些实验将集中在对湍流磁转对流中的速度场进行首次超声多普勒测量，以量化和诊断在模拟地球核心流体的极地包裹中发生的复杂动力学。任务3将通过开发一种新的抛物自由表面对流装置，对发生在地核低纬度地区的旋转对流进行实验室-数值耦合模拟。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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.