Seminar: A tour of planetary magnetic fields in our solar system

Dr. Paula Wulff (UCLA Space Institute, LA, USA) will show us the six planetary magnetic fields known in our solar system, and discuss how to understand them based on 3D MHD models of the planetary interiors.

Our solar system hosts six unique planetary magnetic fields. Intrinsic magnetic fields are generated deep inside planets by dynamo action. This process requires regions of electrically conducting material and energy sources to maintain the dynamo. Thus, we can learn about the deep interiors of planets, including their structures and dynamics, by investigating their magnetic fields. In this talk, we’ll explore some of the interesting questions and possible answers about planetary interiors that have come from studies of planetary magnetism, in particular through 3-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations.