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Cosmological magnetic fields: their generation, evolution and observation

Durrer, Ruth ; Neronov, Andrii

In: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review, 2013, vol. 21, no. 1, p. 1-109

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    Title
    • Cosmological magnetic fields: their generation, evolution and observation
    Author
    • Durrer, Ruth. Département de Physique Théorique and Center for Astroparticle Physics, Université de Genève, 24 Quai E. Ansermet, 1213, Genève, Switzerland
    • Neronov, Andrii. ISDC Data Centre for Astrophysics, Observatoire de Genève and Center for Astroparticle Physics, Université de Genève, 16 Chemin d'Ecogia, 1290, Versoix, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review, 2013, vol. 21, no. 1, p. 1-109. Springer Berlin Heidelberg
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:313137
    Summary
    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