Magnetic Fields in Clusters of Galaxies

TL;DR

This paper reviews current knowledge on magnetic fields in galaxy clusters, emphasizing measurement techniques, their relation to relativistic particles, and interpretations based on dynamo theory to understand intra-cluster turbulence.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of measurement methods and interprets magnetic field data within the framework of non-helical dynamo theory, linking magnetic fields to turbulence.

Findings

Magnetic field strengths and length-scales are measured with increasing accuracy.

Results support the relevance of non-helical dynamo theory in galaxy clusters.

Understanding of intra-cluster turbulence is enhanced through magnetic field analysis.

Abstract

A brief overview about our knowledge on galaxy cluster magnetic fields is provided. Emphasize is given to the mutual dependence of our knowledge on relativistic particles in galaxy clusters and the magnetic field strength. Furthermore, we describe efforts to measure magnetic field strengths, characteristic length-scales, and power-spectra with reliable accuracy. An interpretation of these results in terms of non-helical dynamo theory is given. If this interpretation turns out to be correct, the understanding of cluster magnetic fields is directly connected to our understanding of intra-cluster turbulence.