1999/12/14 by George Davies, Davies, George, Lawrence M. Widrow +1
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Physics and Astronomy · #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #History and Developments in Astronomy #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/9912260
14 pages of text, 1 table, 8 figures
arxiv created 1999/12/14 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
We demonstrate that the Biermann battery mechanism for the creation of large scale magnetic fields can arise in a simple model protogalaxy. Analytic calculations and numerical simulations follow explicitly the generation of vorticity (and hence magnetic field) at the outward-moving shock that develops as the protogalactic perturbation collapses. Shear angular momentum then distorts this field into a dipole-like configuration. The magnitude of the field created in the fully formed disk galaxy is estimated to be 10^(-17) Gauss, approximately what is needed as a seed for the galactic dynamo.