Early cosmos exhibited magnetic fields considerably weaker than typical refrigerator magnets

In a groundbreaking study, an international research group has shed light on one of the universe's long-standing puzzles - the magnetization of the cosmic web. The team, led by scientists from the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Sandia National Laboratories (USA), and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), conducted computer-based simulations to study magnetic fields in the early universe.

The cosmic web, a dominant feature of the universe, has long puzzled scientists due to its pervasive magnetization. This study has confirmed that the cosmic web's magnetization is a result of physical processes in the primordial universe, such as the inflation process before the 'Big Bang' or later phase transitions.

The nearly imperceptible primordial magnetic fields, despite their weakness, would have played a key role in the universe's development. The team's simulations suggest that these fields likely increased the cosmic web's density, which would have sped up the formation of stars and galaxies, thereby influencing the universe's current structure.

The strength of the early magnetic fields was found to be similar to the magnetism produced by human brain neurons. However, the puzzle remains as to why vast, empty areas of the cosmic web are magnetized, since this phenomenon is only expected to occur near galaxies.

The study, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, confirmed that incorporating the effects of ancient, incredibly weak magnetic fields leads to a more accurate model of the cosmic web. The findings are consistent with recent results obtained in independent data and studies on the cosmic microwave background.

The team ran over 250,000 computer simulations to study the cosmic web's magnetization. The research places strict limits on the intensity of magnetic fields formed in the very early moments of the universe, establishing a low value for the early magnetic field intensity, a new upper limit several times lower than previous estimates.

The international team collaborating on the study includes the Universities of Hertfordshire, Cambridge, Nottingham, Stanford, and Potsdam, with the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste leading the study. The James Webb Space Telescope can further validate the findings.

The study holds important implications for various theoretical models seeking to explain the formation of cosmic structures. By understanding the role of primordial magnetic fields, scientists may gain a deeper insight into the universe's early history and its current structure.

Early cosmos exhibited magnetic fields considerably weaker than typical refrigerator magnets