Toward a self-generating magnetic dynamo: The role of turbulence

Turbulent flow of liquid sodium is driven toward the transition to self-gen erating magnetic fields. The approach toward the transition is monitored wi th decay measurements of pulsed magnetic fields. These measurements show si gnificant fluctuations due to the underlying turbulent fluid flow field. Th is paper presents experimental characterizations of the fluctuations in the decay rates and induced magnetic fields. These flue tuations imply that th e transition to self-generation, which should occur at larger magnetic Reyn olds number, will exhibit intermittent bursts of magnetic fields.