Magnetic field in the intracluster medium: Rydberg matter with almost free electrons

Observations of the magnetic field in galaxy clusters by Faraday rotation give new important information. Since the magnetic field is coupled to matter, the Faraday rotation gives direct information on the intracluster matter. It was recently proposed that at least part of the dark matter in the Uni...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2002-10, Vol.335 (4), p.L94-L98
Main Authors: Badiei, Shahriar, Holmlid, Leif
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
galaxies: magnetic fields
intergalactic medium
magnetic fields
molecular processes
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Summary:Observations of the magnetic field in galaxy clusters by Faraday rotation give new important information. Since the magnetic field is coupled to matter, the Faraday rotation gives direct information on the intracluster matter. It was recently proposed that at least part of the dark matter in the Universe is so-called Rydberg matter. The magnetic field which arises as a result of Rydberg matter in space at low temperature is described. It is found to be of considerable strength, and strongly inhomogeneous, owing to the filamentary structure of Rydberg matter. The very low work function of Rydberg matter means that the electrons in the matter are almost free. The inhomogeneous distributions of magnetic field strength and electron density are calculated to give a Faraday rotation which easily covers the range of observed values.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05911.x