Cosmic dynamos

A review is given on modern attempts to elaborate dynamo models for the description of magnetic fields associated with cosmic objects. Starting with general aspects of cosmic dynamos, the kinematic approach to dynamo theory and the full dynamo problem are presented. Essential features of the dynamo processes in cosmic objects are demonstrated at the basic ideas of the mean-field approach. This consideration includes assumptions on the symmetries of the models and their implications for the symmetries of the mean field magnetic fields, models for spherical objects and for flat objects, as well as mean-field magnetohydrodynamics for taking into account the back-reaction of the magnetic field on the motion. A special chapter deals with planetary dynamos and with the solar dynamo. At the moment, even on the kinematic level, no completely satisfying solar dynamo model is available. (WEN)Available from TIB Hannover / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman