A numerical study of the magnetised cosmic web.

• Applicant: Dr. Franco Vazza, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2015 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 283426739

This project is concerned with the study of magnetic fields in the large-scale structure of the Universe. The origin of magnetic fields is still a puzzle, for which both astrophysical (e.g. seeding from galaxies or active galactic nuclei) and cosmological (e.g. growth of primoridal magnetic fields originated during inflation) scenarios have been proposed. Within the next decade, the advent of big new radio facilities (e.g. LOFAR, SKA, MWA) will probe the magnetic properties of the Universe with unprecedented detail. However, a proper physical understanding of observational data requires modelling through simulations. Here I will investigate the magnetisation of the Universe with cosmological simulations that include the interplay of cosmic rays, magnetic fields, turbulence and galaxy formation.These are complex mechanisms, given the required large dynamical range and the necessary subgrid modelling, and previous attempts at simulating this have been unsatisfactory.My goal is to produce a set of simulations, where the coupling between the growth of structures and the growth of magnetic fields is investigated at high-resolution. These simulations will then be used to make forecasts for radio observations. In particular, we would like to study how radio observations can discriminate between various seeding scenarios.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants