Biermann Battery Magnetic Fields in ICF Capsules

Abstract We study the evolution of magnetic fields generated by charge segregation ahead of ionization fronts during the Epoch of Reionization, and their effects on galaxy formation. We compare this magnetic seeding process with the Biermann battery, injection from supernovae, and an imposed seed field at redshift z ≳ 127. Using a suite of self-consistent cosmological and zoom-in simulations based on the Auriga galaxy-formation model, we determine that all mechanisms produce galactic magnetic fields that equally affect galaxy formation, and are nearly indistinguishable at z ≲ 1.5. The former is compatible with observed values, while the latter is correlated with the gas metallicity below a seed-dependent redshift. Low-density gas and haloes below a seed-dependent mass threshold retain memory of the initial magnetic field. We produce synthetic Faraday rotation measure maps, showing that they have the potential to constrain the seeding process, although current observations are not yet sensitive enough. Our results imply that the ad-hoc assumption of a primordial seed field – widely used in galaxy formation simulations but of uncertain physical origin – can be replaced by physically-motivated mechanisms for magnetogenesis with negligible impact on galactic properties. Additionally, magnetic fields generated ahead of ionization fronts appear very similar but weaker than those produced by the Biermann battery. Hence, in a realistic scenario where both mechanisms are active, the former will be negligible compared to the latter. Finally, our results highlight that the high-redshift Universe is a fruitful testing ground for our understanding of magnetic fields generation.

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Biermann battery as a source of astrophysical magnetic fields

Open Astronomy ◽

10.1515/astro-2021-0017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 127-131

Author(s):

Evgeny A. Mikhailov ◽

Ruben R. Andreasyan

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Large Scale ◽

Small Scale ◽

Radio Waves ◽

Dynamo Mechanism ◽

Alpha Effect ◽

Biermann Battery ◽

Annealing Method ◽

Initial Magnetic Field

Abstract A large number of galaxies have large-scale magnetic fields which are usually measured by the Faraday rotation of radio waves. Their origin is usually connected with the dynamo mechanism which is based on differential rotation of the interstellar medium and alpha-effect characterizing the helicity of the small-scale motions. However, it is necessary to have initial magnetic field which cannot be generated by the dynamo. One of the possible mechanisms is connected with the Biermann battery which acts because of different masses of protons and electrons passing from the central object. They produce circular currents which induce the vertical magnetic field. As for this field we can obtain the integral equation which can be solved by simulated annealing method which is widely used in different branches of mathematics

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Time-resolved turbulent dynamo in a laser plasma

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2015729118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 118 (11) ◽

pp. e2015729118

Author(s):

Archie F. A. Bott ◽

Petros Tzeferacos ◽

Laura Chen ◽

Charlotte A. J. Palmer ◽

Alexandra Rigby ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Fields ◽

Large Scale ◽

Magnetic Energy ◽

Initial Growth ◽

Magnetic Field Generation ◽

Laser Target ◽

Time Resolved ◽

Target Interaction ◽

Strong Shear ◽

Biermann Battery

Understanding magnetic-field generation and amplification in turbulent plasma is essential to account for observations of magnetic fields in the universe. A theoretical framework attributing the origin and sustainment of these fields to the so-called fluctuation dynamo was recently validated by experiments on laser facilities in low-magnetic-Prandtl-number plasmas (Pm<1). However, the same framework proposes that the fluctuation dynamo should operate differently when Pm≳1, the regime relevant to many astrophysical environments such as the intracluster medium of galaxy clusters. This paper reports an experiment that creates a laboratory Pm≳1 plasma dynamo. We provide a time-resolved characterization of the plasma’s evolution, measuring temperatures, densities, flow velocities, and magnetic fields, which allows us to explore various stages of the fluctuation dynamo’s operation on seed magnetic fields generated by the action of the Biermann-battery mechanism during the initial drive-laser target interaction. The magnetic energy in structures with characteristic scales close to the driving scale of the stochastic motions is found to increase by almost three orders of magnitude and saturate dynamically. It is shown that the initial growth of these fields occurs at a much greater rate than the turnover rate of the driving-scale stochastic motions. Our results point to the possibility that plasma turbulence produced by strong shear can generate fields more efficiently at the driving scale than anticipated by idealized magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of the nonhelical fluctuation dynamo; this finding could help explain the large-scale fields inferred from observations of astrophysical systems.

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Numerical simulations of quiet Sun magnetic fields seeded by the Biermann battery

Astronomy and Astrophysics ◽

10.1051/0004-6361/201630291 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 604 ◽

pp. A66 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

E. Khomenko ◽

N. Vitas ◽

M. Collados ◽

A. de Vicente

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Fields ◽

Numerical Simulations ◽

Quiet Sun ◽

Biermann Battery

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Vortex generation in the early Universe

Astronomy and Astrophysics ◽

10.1051/0004-6361/202039127 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 642 ◽

pp. L6

Author(s):

Chinmoy Bhattacharjee ◽

David J. Stark

Keyword(s):

Black Holes ◽

Black Hole ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Accretion Disk ◽

Early Universe ◽

Accretion Disks ◽

Disk Model ◽

Spacetime Curvature ◽

Vorticity Generation ◽

Biermann Battery

Context. Accretion disks formed near primordial black holes can be sources of seed magnetic fields in the early Universe. In particular, the Biermann battery mechanism has been shown to generate primordial magnetic fields in an unmagnetized and turbulence-free accretion disk, but this depends on a delicate misalignment of density and pressure gradients in plasmas. Aims. We aim to reformulate the question of magnetogenesis in the context of plasma generalized vorticity and to search for a more robust mechanism of vorticity generation in the early Universe. Methods. We utilize the electro-vortical formalism in curved spacetime, which treats the plasma flow and electromagnetic field on an equal footing, and apply it to a thin accretion disk model near a rotating black hole. Results. We present a spacetime curvature-driven mechanism that persists even in the absence of the Biermann battery. We explore the vorticity and enstrophy generation rate dependencies on black hole masses and spin rates. Conclusions. Analysis indicates that the accretion disks around lower-mass, faster rotating black holes contribute the greatest amount to the enstrophy and vorticity generation rates from the spacetime curvature drive. The shorter turning radii at which the sign of the vorticity changes – corresponding with this region of phase space – may favor these length scales in vortical structure formation and subsequent evolution.

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Calculated Coronal Magnetic Fields and Their Comparison with the Coronal Structures as Observed during Five Solar Eclipses

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100026038 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 144 ◽

pp. 559-564

Author(s):

P. Ambrož ◽

J. Sýkora

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Solar Cycle ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Solar Corona ◽

Coronal Magnetic Field ◽

Coronal Magnetic Fields ◽

Solar Eclipses ◽

Coronal Structures

AbstractWe were successful in observing the solar corona during five solar eclipses (1973-1991). For the eclipse days the coronal magnetic field was calculated by extrapolation from the photosphere. Comparison of the observed and calculated coronal structures is carried out and some peculiarities of this comparison, related to the different phases of the solar cycle, are presented.

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Radio Measurements of Coronal Magnetic Fields

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100024933 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 144 ◽

pp. 21-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

G. B. Gelfreikh

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Solar Corona ◽

Active Regions ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Coronal Magnetic Field ◽

Transverse Magnetic ◽

Radio Sources ◽

Radio Waves ◽

Solar Active Regions

AbstractA review of methods of measuring magnetic fields in the solar corona using spectral-polarization observations at microwaves with high spatial resolution is presented. The methods are based on the theory of thermal bremsstrahlung, thermal cyclotron emission, propagation of radio waves in quasi-transverse magnetic field and Faraday rotation of the plane of polarization. The most explicit program of measurements of magnetic fields in the atmosphere of solar active regions has been carried out using radio observations performed on the large reflector radio telescope of the Russian Academy of Sciences — RATAN-600. This proved possible due to good wavelength coverage, multichannel spectrographs observations and high sensitivity to polarization of the instrument. Besides direct measurements of the strength of the magnetic fields in some cases the peculiar parameters of radio sources, such as very steep spectra and high brightness temperatures provide some information on a very complicated local structure of the coronal magnetic field. Of special interest are the results found from combined RATAN-600 and large antennas of aperture synthesis (VLA and WSRT), the latter giving more detailed information on twodimensional structure of radio sources. The bulk of the data obtained allows us to investigate themagnetospheresof the solar active regions as the space in the solar corona where the structures and physical processes are controlled both by the photospheric/underphotospheric currents and surrounding “quiet” corona.

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