Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/iii/paper-65/2/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 iii Paper 65 2 i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Start from the constant-coefficient mean-field dynamo equationHere may include turbulent as well as microscopic diffusion. Use a local Cartesian model, neglect meridional circulation and curvature, and assume independence of . Represent the poloidal magnetic field by a vector potential along and the toroidal magnetic field by its component:The shear contributes . The poloidal part of gives , while the toroidal part of is . ThereforeRetaining one common transverse dependence changes to , producing the two requested equations. The first coupling is the alpha effect regenerating poloidal field from toroidal field; the shear is differential-rotation winding in an Alpha-Omega dynamo. Retaining the alpha contribution in the second equation also allows alpha-squared dynamo feedback, rather than making the pure Parker shear-dominated approximation.
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