Ferromagnetic vacuum and galactic magnetic fields

Feb, 1994
6 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Lett.B 329 (1994) 195-198
e-Print:
Report number:
  • NORDITA-94-6-PA

Citations per year

199420012008201520220246810
Abstract:
Non-abelian gauge theories may have a ferromagnet-like vacuum with a non-zero magnetic field, which also exists at finite temperature. We argue that the formation of the ferromagnet-like vacuum at GUT scales gives rise to a Maxwell magnetic field imprinted on the comoving plasma, and that it is energetically favourable to align the field in different correlation volumes. This results in a coherent magnetic field pertaining the whole universe, with a magnitude B_{now}\simeq 10~{-14}\G, which is of the correct size to serve as the seed field for the galactic dynamo.
  • galaxy
  • vacuum state: ferromagnet
  • magnetic field: galaxy
  • finite temperature
  • gauge field theory: SU(N)
  • grand unified theory
  • critical phenomena