We demonstrate that the Biermann battery mechanism for the creation of large-scale magnetic fields can arise in a simple model protogalaxy. Analytic calculations and numerical simulations follow explicitly the generation of vorticity (and hence magnetic field) at the outward-moving shock that develops as the protogalactic perturbation collapses. Shear angular momentum then distorts this field into a dipole-like configuration. The magnitude of the field created in the fully formed disk galaxy is estimated to be 10 -17 G, approximately what is needed as a seed for the galactic dynamo.
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Davies et al. (2000) studied this question.
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