Anelastic convection-driven dynamo benchmarks

Benchmark solutions for fully nonlinear anelastic compressible convection and dynamo action in a rotating spherical shell are proposed. Three benchmarks are specified. The first is a purely hydrodynamic case, which is steady in a uniformly drifting frame. The second is a self-excited saturated dynamo solution, also steady in a drifting frame. The third is again a self-excited dynamo but is unsteady in time, and it has a higher Rayleigh number than the steady dynamo benchmark. Four independent codes have been tested against these benchmarks, and very satisfactory agreement has been found. This provides an accurate reference standard against which new anelastic codes can be tested.

► Anelastic dynamo benchmark solutions have been proposed. ► Valid for convection driven compressible dynamos in spherical geometry. ► Four different codes have been tested, and good numerical agreement found. ► Codes used to explore interior dynamics of giant planets and rotating stars. ► The benchmarks form a reference standard for testing newly developed anelastic codes.