The first magnetic fields in the universe

Abstract

We show that the first structures that form in the universe should spontaneously generate magnetic fields. No primordial seed field is required for this "first dynamo". Although the first dynamo starts with kinetic plasma instabilities, we argue that an adequate magnetohydrodynamic description might be possible via a simple trick. This should allow a numerical study of the effect of the first magnetic fields on the first baryonic objects.