Towards experimental fluid dynamos

An experimental demonstration of a magnetic field generated by the motion o f liquid conductor is still lacking despite the central role of the dynamo effect in geophysics and astrophysics. Several experiments are presently br ing prepared which aim at building a homogeneous dynamo on a laboratory sca le. The technical difficulties involved in building a dynamo preclude an ex periment which replicates all aspects of the geodynamo and realizability is the prime concern in the experimental projects. The flows resulting from t he different driving mechanisms which have been proposed are compared and t he considerations entering the design of a dynamo experiment are presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.