Shock Waves in the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe

TL;DR

This paper discusses the properties and effects of collisionless shock waves generated during the formation of large-scale cosmic structures, highlighting their role in heating, cosmic-ray acceleration, and magnetic field generation.

Contribution

It provides a concise overview of the characteristics and significance of cosmological shock waves in the universe's large-scale structure formation.

Findings

Shock waves are collisionless and form in the intergalactic medium.

They transfer gravitational energy into heat, cosmic rays, turbulence, and magnetic fields.

These shocks influence the evolution of large-scale cosmic structures.

Abstract

Cosmological shock waves are induced during hierarchical formation of large-scale structure in the universe. Like most astrophysical shocks, they are collisionless, since they form in the tenuous intergalactic medium through electromagnetic viscosities. The gravitational energy released during structure formation is transferred by these shocks to the intergalactic gas as heat, cosmic-rays, turbulence, and magnetic fields. Here we briefly describe the properties and consequences of the shock waves in the context of the large-scale structure of the universe.