Primordial Magnetic Fields in Light of Dark Ages Global 21-cm Signal (2402.18565v2)

Abstract: We study the constraints on primordial magnetic fields (PMFs) in light of the global 21-cm signal observed during the dark ages. Primordial magnetic fields can heat the intergalactic medium (IGM) via magnetohydrodynamic effects. We investigate the impact of magnetic heating on the dark ages global 21-cm signal and constrain the present-day strength of primordial magnetic fields and their spectral indices. Since there were no stars during the Dark Ages, measuring the global 21-cm signal can provide pristine cosmological information. However, detecting this signal using ground-based telescopes is challenging. Several lunar and space-based experiments, such as FARSIDE, DAPPER, and FarView, have been proposed to detect the signal in future. Our findings indicate that measuring the 21-cm global signal during the Dark Ages can provide stronger bounds compared to the existing constraints from Planck 2016. Specifically, the bounds are independent of astrophysical uncertainties and stronger for spectral indices $-2.84 \leq n_B \leq -1.58$. Additionally, we explore the dark-ages consistency ratio, which can identify any non-standard heating of the IGM by measuring the 21-cm signal at only three different redshifts. This approach could complement future experiments aimed at detecting the Dark Ages global 21-cm signal.