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Title: Helical Magnetic Fields from Sphaleron Decay and Baryogenesis

Abstract

Many models of baryogenesis rely on anomalous particle physics processes to give baryon number violation. By numerically evolving the electroweak equations on a lattice, we show that baryogenesis in these models creates helical cosmic magnetic fields, though the helicity created is smaller than earlier analytical estimates. After a transitory period, electroweak dynamics is found to conserve the Chern-Simons number and the total electromagnetic helicity. We argue that baryogenesis could lead to magnetic fields of nano-Gauss strength today on astrophysical length scales. In addition to being astrophysically relevant, such helical magnetic fields can provide an independent probe of baryogenesis and CP violation in particle physics.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. CERCA, Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7079 (United States)
  2. Instituut-Lorentz for Theoretical Physics, Leiden (Netherlands)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21179835
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 101; Journal Issue: 17; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.171302; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; ASTROPHYSICS; BARYON NUMBER; CP INVARIANCE; EQUATIONS; HELICITY; MAGNETIC FIELDS; PARTICLE DECAY; PARTICLE PRODUCTION

Citation Formats

Copi, Craig J, Ferrer, Francesc, Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, Vachaspati, Tanmay, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, Achucarro, Ana, and Department of Theoretical Physics, The University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, 48940 Bilbao. Helical Magnetic Fields from Sphaleron Decay and Baryogenesis. United States: N. p., 2008. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.101.171302.
Copi, Craig J, Ferrer, Francesc, Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, Vachaspati, Tanmay, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, Achucarro, Ana, & Department of Theoretical Physics, The University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, 48940 Bilbao. Helical Magnetic Fields from Sphaleron Decay and Baryogenesis. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.101.171302
Copi, Craig J, Ferrer, Francesc, Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, Vachaspati, Tanmay, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, Achucarro, Ana, and Department of Theoretical Physics, The University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, 48940 Bilbao. 2008. "Helical Magnetic Fields from Sphaleron Decay and Baryogenesis". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.101.171302.
@article{osti_21179835,
title = {Helical Magnetic Fields from Sphaleron Decay and Baryogenesis},
author = {Copi, Craig J and Ferrer, Francesc and Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130 and Vachaspati, Tanmay and Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 and Achucarro, Ana and Department of Theoretical Physics, The University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, 48940 Bilbao},
abstractNote = {Many models of baryogenesis rely on anomalous particle physics processes to give baryon number violation. By numerically evolving the electroweak equations on a lattice, we show that baryogenesis in these models creates helical cosmic magnetic fields, though the helicity created is smaller than earlier analytical estimates. After a transitory period, electroweak dynamics is found to conserve the Chern-Simons number and the total electromagnetic helicity. We argue that baryogenesis could lead to magnetic fields of nano-Gauss strength today on astrophysical length scales. In addition to being astrophysically relevant, such helical magnetic fields can provide an independent probe of baryogenesis and CP violation in particle physics.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.101.171302},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21179835}, journal = {Physical Review Letters},
issn = {0031-9007},
number = 17,
volume = 101,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 24 00:00:00 EDT 2008},
month = {Fri Oct 24 00:00:00 EDT 2008}
}