Laboratory experiments on geodynamo
地球发电机过程的实验室模拟研究

The knowledge on the origin of the geomagnetic field relies on theoretical studies, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations, and observations. The theoretical studies lay down a physical frame and supply physical ideas; the laboratory experiments examine the theoretical production and discover important new phenomena; the numerical simulations may describe complicated dynamo processes in a wide range of parameters; and finally, observations serve not only as the start point of these studies, but also as an assessment of the obtained results. In this paper, the principal results of experimental geodynamo, especially, those obtained after 2000, are introduced. At present, most laboratory experiments on geodynamo are focused on kinematical dynamo. Compared with the great achievements on the numerical simulations of geodynamo, it is necessary to develop experimental studies to the second generation of experimental geodynamo.