According to findings from Columbia University, the origin of magnetic fields throughout the cosmos may be in turbulent plasma.

1. Turbulent Plasma:
Uncovering the Source of the
Universe’s Magnetic Fields
According to findings from Columbia University, the origin of magnetic fields throughout the
cosmos may be in turbulent plasma. Their research shows that these plasmas, which are prevalent
in a variety of contexts, have the ability to spontaneously generate and enhance magnetic fields,
illuminating the mechanism by which magnetic fields can extend over enormous distances.
Magnetic fields’ origin has long been a subject of discussion. The fresh
study provides hints about their genesis
Your refrigerator isn’t the only appliance with magnets on it. Additionally magnetized are the
sun, the moon, the stars, galaxies, and intergalactic space. The more areas in the universe that
scientists have searched for magnetic fields, the more of them they have discovered. But the
reason why that is the case and the source of those magnetic fields have remained a mystery and a
focus of research.
NASA’s flying Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) observatory captured
the magnetic field in the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), which was superimposed on a Hubble
telescope image of the galaxy. The picture displays infrared photos of dust particles in the M51
galaxy. Although it is also being tugged in the direction of the next galaxy to the right of the
frame, its magnetic orientation mostly matches the spiral form of the galaxy. Credit: NASA,

2. ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI), and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); NASA, the SOFIA
scientific team, and A. Borlaff.
Magnetic fields are frequently taken for granted. Despite being all around us, we cannot see them.
They span the stars, planets, and galaxies as well as sticking our magnets to the refrigerator.
Scientists are still unsure of the magnetic fields’ genesis. Particularly in the early cosmos when
matter was scarce and cold, how did they initially form? Recent findings illuminate how that
would have been possible.
According to a recent study that was published in Physical Review Letters, a group of scientists
from Columbia University conducted simulations to explain the occurrence. The experiment
demonstrated that magnetic fields can be created from nothing and grown exponentially through
turbulence, the random and chaotic motion of plasma particles.
Evolution of Special Relativistic Turbulent Plasma
Knowledge of the Magnetic Field’s Origins
A fresh study from Columbia University researchers sheds light on the origin of these fields.
Models were utilized by the research team to demonstrate that magnetic fields can emerge
spontaneously in turbulence.
In addition to creating new magnetic fields, their simulations demonstrated that the turbulent
plasmas can also increase magnetic fields once they have already been created. This clarifies how
magnetic fields that initially form on small sizes can occasionally later spread across great
distances.
a composite image showing the emergence and development of magnetic fields in turbulent
plasma, from small-scale weak fields (top left) to large-scale strong fields (bottom right).
Authorized by Columbia University
In the purest, vast, and remote regions of our cosmos, swirling plasma particles in tumultuous
motion can spontaneously give birth to new magnetic fields, according to recent research, Sironi
said.
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