Pictures

Movies

Magnetic Helicity and its Topological Interpretation

Magnetic field lines in a simulation with three interlocked flux rings and zero magnetic helicity. The colors represent the magnitude of the field. The topology of the system gets apparently destroyed.
Simulation done in a 256*256*256 box for resistive MHD with the PencileCode.
Download in higher resolution: H0_256d2.mpg



Magnetic field lines in a simulation with three interlocked flux rings and finite magnetic helicity. The colors represent the magnitude of the field. The topology of the system is conserved. Note the twist of the inner ring as the outer rings reconnect. This reflects helicity conservation.
Simulation done in a 256*256*256 box for resistive MHD with the PencileCode.
Download in higher resolution: H4_256d2.mpg