Evidence for strong intracluster magnetic fields in the early Universe

TL;DR

This study provides evidence that strong magnetic fields (~4 μG) existed in galaxy clusters at redshifts greater than 0.9, suggesting early Universe magnetic field strengths comparable to those in nearby clusters.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method using RM differences of radio source pairs to estimate intracluster magnetic fields at high redshifts.

Findings

Intracluster magnetic fields at z>0.9 are about 4 μG.

Strong magnetic fields existed in the early Universe.

Results challenge existing theories on the origin of cosmic magnetic fields.

Abstract

The origin of magnetic fields in clusters of galaxies is still a matter of debate. Observations for intracluster magnetic fields over a wide range of redshifts are crucial to constrain possible scenarios for the origin and evolution of the fields. (Differences of Faraday rotation measures (RMs) of an embedded double radio sources, i.e. a pair of lobes of mostly Fanaroff--Riley type II radio galaxies, are free from the Faraday rotation contributions from the interstellar medium inside the Milky Way and the intergalactic medium between radio galaxies and us, and hence provide a novel way to estimate average magnetic field within galaxy clusters.) We have obtained a sample of 627 pairs whose RMs and redshifts are available in the most updated RM catalogues and redshift databases. The RM differences of the pairs are derived. The statistically large RM differences for pairs of redshifts $z>0.9$ indicate that intracluster magnetic fields is as strong as about 4~$\mu$G. Such strong magnetic fields in the intracluster medium at the half age of the Universe, comparable to intracluster field strength in nearby galaxy clusters, pose a challenge on the theories for origin of cosmic magnetic fields.