Magnetic Fields in Clusters of Galaxies: A Theorist View of the Nature and Origin

Abstract

Magnetic fields appear to be ubiquitous in astrophysical environments, including the large-scale structure of the universe. The existence of magnetic fields, especially in clusters of galaxies, has been well established through various observations, such as Faraday rotation and synchrotron observations. Yet, the nature and origin of the magnetic fields remains controversial and largely unknown. In this talk, I first introduce a plausible scenario, based on small-scale, turbulence dynamo, for the magnetic fields; seed fields were created in the early universe and subsequently amplified during the formation of the large-scale structure of the universe. I then discuss whether the turbulence dynamo scenario can explain the observed characteristics of magnetic fields, such as the strength and coherence length, in clusters of galaxies.