Joint cosmology seminar at Tufts:

Tuesday, August 30, 2016, 2:30 pm
574 Boston Ave, Room 404
Tufts University
Refreshments at 2:00 outside room 404

Special Seminar: Fundamental Implications of Intergalactic Magnetic Field Observations

Tanmay Vachaspati
Arizona State

Abstract:

I will review current observational evidence for helical intergalactic magnetic fields at the $\sim 10^{-14}~{\rm G}$ level on $\sim 10~{\rm Mpc}$ length scales. The existence of magnetic fields in cosmic voids and their non-trivial helicity suggest that they must have originated in the early universe and thus have implications for the fundamental interactions. The importance of CP violation and a possible crucial role for chiral effects in the early universe will be pointed out.