Cosmological magnetic fields: their generation, evolution and observation

2013/03/31 by Ruth Durrer, R. Durrer, A. Neronov · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrobiology #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Physics #Planetary science #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #astro-ph.CO #astro-ph.HE

paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s00159-013-0062-7

to appear in Astronomy & Astrophysics Review

arxiv created 2013/05/07 · openalex publication_date 2013/06/28 · arxiv updated 2015/06/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We review the possible mechanisms for the generation of cosmological magnetic fields, discuss their evolution in an expanding Universe filled with the cosmic plasma and provide a critical review of the literature on the subject. We put special emphasis on the prospects for observational tests of the proposed cosmological magnetogenesis scenarios using radio and gamma-ray astronomy and ultra high energy cosmic rays. We argue that primordial magnetic fields are observationally testable. They lead to magnetic fields in the intergalactic medium with magnetic field strength and correlation length in a well defined range. We also state the unsolved questions in this fascinating open problem of cosmology and propose future observations to address them.

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Cited by

• Can Superconducting Cosmic Strings Piercing Seed Black Holes Generate Supermassive Black Holes in the Early Universe?
• Physics of cosmological cascades and observable properties
• Morphology of blazar-induced gamma ray halos due to a helical intergalactic magnetic field
• Kiloparsec-scale turbulence driven by reionization may grow intergalactic magnetic fields

Related

• Cosmological Magnetic Fields
• Magnetic Fields in the Early Universe
• Primordial magnetogenesis
• On the Physics of Primordial Magnetic Fields
• Cosmic Magnetic Fields: from Stars and Galaxies to the Primordial Universe