Researchers at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) have proposed a groundbreaking new theory that could shed light on the formation of magnetic fields in the early universe. The study suggests that dark matter mini-halos scattered throughout the cosmos could reveal the existence of primordial magnetic fields, offering new insights into the nature of cosmic magnetic fields and the early universe.
Magnetic fields are found throughout the universe, but their origins have long been a subject of debate among scientists. The new theoretical research from SISSA suggests that magnetic fields may have originated near the birth of the universe itself, within seconds of the Big Bang.
The study shows that if magnetic fields are indeed primordial, they could have caused an increase in dark matter density perturbations on small scales, leading to the formation of mini-halos of dark matter. These mini-halos could serve as sensitive probes of primordial magnetic fields, providing potential evidence for their existence.
Pranjal Ralegankar, the author of the research, explained, “Our approach is based on a question: What is the influence of magnetic fields on dark matter? Although there is no direct interaction, there is an indirect one that occurs through gravity.”
The study also suggests that the abundance of mini-halos is determined not by the present presence of primordial magnetic fields, but rather by their strength in the primordial universe. This means that a detection of dark matter mini-halos would provide strong evidence that magnetic fields formed very early, within seconds of the Big Bang.
The research, which was published in the journal Physical Review Letters, offers a new perspective on the formation of magnetic fields and provides a potential avenue for detecting and understanding primordial magnetic fields in the early universe.