The magnetic field million light years in the universe

German scientists discovered the largest magnetic field created by collisions between galaxy clusters.

The team at the Max Planck Radio Astronomical Institute (MPIfR), Germany, discovered collisions between clusters of galaxies in the universe creating giant magnetic fields. One of them stretches millions of light years and is tens of times larger than the Milky Way, according to the International Business Times. The research results are published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics on March 22.

"We found the largest stable magnetic field in the universe, spanning 5-6 million light years , " said Maja Kierdorf, the study's lead author.

Collisions between clusters of galaxies can produce giant magnetic fields.(Artwork: iStock).

Intergalactic collisions cause compression of hot gas, forming what looks like an electric arc called relic. Since the first discovery in 1970 so far, the ruins have been discovered in more than 70 galaxy clusters.

Scientists use the giant Effelsberg Radio Telescope in Germany to capture images of the four best known collision ruins. One of them is CIZA J2242 + 53.

The results show that the remnants are organized structures and the movement of particles will create huge magnetic fields. The shape and density of the ruins indicate that clusters of galaxies can collide at speeds above 2,000 km / sec.

"This magnetic field has the same intensity as in the Milky Way, but has a particularly high polarization, up to 50%," the team said.

The Effelsberg telescope in the future will be the ideal tool to discover more similar giant magnetic fields in the universe. "Now we can search for stable magnetic fields in galaxy clusters using polar radio waves ," said study co-author Rainer Beck.