Neutrino mass and the origin of galactic magnetic fields

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.48.4557· OSTI ID:6051584

Enqvist, K ^[1]; Semikoz, V ^[2]; Shukurov, A ^[3]; Sokoloff, D ^[4]

---

1. Nordita, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen O (Denmark)
2. Nordita, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen O (Denmark) IZMIRAN, Academy of Sciences, Troitsk 142092 (Russian Federation)
3. IZMIRAN, Academy of Sciences, Troitsk 142092 (Russian Federation) Computing Center, Moscow University, Moscow 119899 (Russian Federation)
4. Physics Department, Moscow University, Moscow 119899 (Russian Federation) Isaac Newton Institute, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB3 0EH (United Kingdom)

We compare two constraints on the strength of the cosmological primordial magnetic field: the one following from the restrictions on the Dirac neutrino spin flip in the early Universe, and another one based on the galactic dynamo theory for the Milky Way (presuming that the seed magnetic field has a relic origin). Since the magnetic field facilitates transitions between left- and right-handed neutrino states, thereby affecting [sup 4]He production at primordial nucleosynthesis, we can obtain a guaranteed [ital upper] limit on the strength of the relic magnetic field in the protogalaxy, [ital B][sub [ital c]][approx lt]4[times]10[sup [minus]9]--3[times]10[sup [minus]13] G, depending on the neutrino magnetic moment, if we adopt the MSW explanation of the GALLEX results. On the other hand, models of the dynamo in the Milky Way indicate that the seed magnetic field should be [ital at] [ital least] 10[sup [minus]11]--10[sup [minus]13] G at the protogalaxy scale [ital L]=100 kpc. These upper and lower limiting ranges are marginally consistent provided the electron neutrino mass is below 0.3 eV. The results apply to a relic magnetic field produced in the early Universe by any causal mechanism before the nucleosynthesis.

• OSTI ID: 6051584
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States), Vol. 48:10; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRINOS
MASS
HELIUM 4
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
MILKY WAY
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
SPIN FLIP
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FERMIONS
GALAXIES
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LEPTONS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEI
STABLE ISOTOPES
SYNTHESIS
662320* - Neutrino Interactions- (1992-)
662430 - Properties of Leptons- (1992-)