Magnetic field millions of light years in the universe

German scientists have discovered the largest magnetic field in the universe created by collisions between galaxy clusters.

Collisions between galaxy clusters can create giant magnetic fields. Illustration: iStock.

A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), Germany, discovered that collisions between galaxy clusters in the universe create giant magnetic fields. One of them stretches millions of light-years and is dozens of times larger than the Milky Way, according to International Business Times. The research results were published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

"We discovered the largest stable magnetic field in the universe, spanning 5-6 million light years," said Maja Kierdorf, lead author of the study.

Collisions between galaxies compress hot gas, forming arc-like structures called relics. Since their first discovery in 1970, relics have been found in more than 70 galaxy clusters.

Scientists used the giant Effelsberg Radio Telescope in Germany to capture images of four of the best-known impact remnants. One of them is CIZA J2242+53.

The results showed that the remnants are organized structures and the movement of particles would generate huge magnetic fields. The shape and density of the remnants indicate that galaxy clusters can collide with each other at speeds of over 2,000 km/s.

"This magnetic field has the same strength as in the Milky Way, but has an exceptionally high polarization, up to 50%," the team said.

The future Effelsberg Telescope will be the ideal instrument to detect more such giant magnetic fields in the universe. "We can now search for stable magnetic fields in galaxy clusters using polarized radio waves," said Rainer Beck, a co-author of the study.

According to VNE