Towards a model for the solar dynamo

We study a mean field model of the solar dynamo, in which the non-linearity is the action of the azimuthal component of the Lorentz force of the dynam o-generated magnetic field on the angular velocity. The underlying zero-ord er angular velocity is consistent with recent determinations of the solar r otation law, and the form of the alpha effect is chosen so as to give a pla usible butterfly diagram. For small Prandtl numbers we find regular, interm ittent and apparently chaotic behaviour, depending on the size of the alpha coefficient. For certain parameters, the intermittency displays some of th e characteristics believed to be associated with the Maunder minimum. We th us believe that we are capturing some features of the solar dynamo.