Probing large-scale magnetism with the Cosmic Microwave Background

摘要

Prior to photon decoupling magnetic random fields of comoving intensity inthe nano-Gauss range distort the temperature and the polarization anisotropiesof the microwave background, potentially induce a peculiar B-mode powerspectrum and may even generate a frequency-dependent circularly polarizedV-mode. We critically analyze the theoretical foundations and the recentachievements of an interesting trialogue involving plasma physics, generalrelativity and astrophysics.