MHD dynamo

The MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) dynamo is a fluid example of a dynamo, or electrical generator. The basic concept underlying the mechanical and fluid dynamos is the same. The fluid dynamo, however, uses the motion of fluid to generate the currents which generate the electrical energy. The mechanical dynamo, in contrast, uses the motion of mechanical devices to accomplish this.

The MHD dynamo is an active area of research in plasma physics. In some cases, anomalous magnetic field production in the MST reversed field pinch has been shown to be caused by the MHD dynamo.

The geophysics and astrophysics communities also have an interest in the MHD dynamo, since it is proposed to be the cause of most geophysical and astrophysical magnetic fields.