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The origin and evolution of cluster magnetism
Author(s) -
Shukurov A.,
Subramanian K.,
Haugen N. E. L.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.200610596
Subject(s) - dynamo , physics , intergalactic travel , galaxy cluster , astrophysics , cluster (spacecraft) , intracluster medium , magnetism , magnetic field , dynamo theory , turbulence , magnetic reynolds number , galaxy , magnetohydrodynamics , condensed matter physics , mechanics , computer science , quantum mechanics , redshift , programming language
Random motions can occur in the intergalactic gas of galaxy clusters at all stages of their evolution. Depending on the poorly known value of the Reynolds number, these motions can or cannot become turbulent, but in any case they can generate random magnetic fields via dynamo action. We argue that magnetic fields inferred observationally for the intracluster medium require dynamo action, and then estimate parameters of random flows and magnetic fields at various stages of the cluster evolution. Polarization in cluster radio halos predicted by the model would be detectable with the SKA. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)