Helical magnetic fields from sphaleron decay and baryogenesis

Craig J. Copi, Francesc Ferrer, Tanmay Vachaspati, Ana Achúcarro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many models of baryogenesis rely on anomalous particle physics processes to give baryon number violation. By numerically evolving the electroweak equations on a lattice, we show that baryogenesis in these models creates helical cosmic magnetic fields, though the helicity created is smaller than earlier analytical estimates. After a transitory period, electroweak dynamics is found to conserve the Chern-Simons number and the total electromagnetic helicity. We argue that baryogenesis could lead to magnetic fields of nano-Gauss strength today on astrophysical length scales. In addition to being astrophysically relevant, such helical magnetic fields can provide an independent probe of baryogenesis and CP violation in particle physics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number171302
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume101
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 24 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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