Matter in the Universe is distributed unevenly, forming an extremely large-scale structure. According to a new study, it may have been caused by extremely weak fields at the very beginning of its existence.
Large-scale structure of the Universe
On a large scale, the Universe is homogeneous, but it still exhibits a cellular structure so large that our entire Galaxy is only a tiny particle of this gigantic structure. It is believed that it arose as a result of certain processes that took place when the Universe was very young and small.
Research conducted by a team from SISSA (the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste) in collaboration with the universities of Hertfordshire, Cambridge, Nottingham, Stanford, and Potsdam suggested that these were magnetic fields, and very small ones indeed.
Researchers conducted a quarter of a million computer simulations and determined that the actual field strength, traces of which we now observe in the form of galaxy superclusters, could have been as low as 0.2 nano-gauss. This is quite comparable to the strength of magnets that stick to a refrigerator.
Small magnetic fields
At first glance, it seems inconceivable that such small magnetic fields could have led to the formation of something so large. However, comparing them with observational data demonstrates the extraordinary similarity of these experiments to the actual structure of the Universe.
Scientists said that if magnetic fields were stronger, the large-scale structure of the Universe would look different. The filaments of galaxy clusters would be denser, and the galaxies and stars within them would have had time to evolve more.
However, the authors of the study say that it would be a good idea to conduct additional observations using the James Webb Space Telescope to confirm that this is indeed the case.
According to phys.org
