Magnetic fields of HgMn stars

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2012), 547

Context. The frequent presence of weak magnetic fields on the surface of spotted late-B stars with HgMn peculiarity in binary systems has been controversial during the two last decades. Recent studies of ... [more ▼]

Context. The frequent presence of weak magnetic fields on the surface of spotted late-B stars with HgMn peculiarity in binary systems has been controversial during the two last decades. Recent studies of magnetic fields in these stars using the least-squares deconvolution (LSD) technique have failed to detect magnetic fields, indicating an upper limit on the longitudinal field between 8 and 15 G. In these LSD studies, assumptions were made that all spectral lines are identical in shape and can be described by a scaled mean profile. <BR /> Aims: We re-analyse the available spectropolarimetric material by applying the moment technique on spectral lines of inhomogeneously distributed elements separately. Furthermore, we present new determinations of the mean longitudinal magnetic field for the HgMn star HD 65949 and the hotter analog of HgMn stars, the PGa star HD 19400, using FORS 2 installed at the VLT. We also give new measurements of the eclipsing system AR Aur with a primary star of HgMn peculiarity, which were obtained with the SOFIN spectropolarimeter installed at the Nordic Optical Telescope. <BR /> Methods: We downloaded from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) archive the publically available HARPS spectra for eight HgMn stars and one normal and one superficially normal B-type star obtained in 2010. Out of this sample, three HgMn stars belong to spectroscopic double-lined systems. The application of the moment technique to the HARPS and SOFIN spectra allowed us to study the presence of the longitudinal magnetic field, the crossover effect, and quadratic magnetic fields. Results for the HgMn star HD 65949 and the PGa star HD 19400 are based on a linear regression analysis of low-resolution spectra obtained with FORS 2 in spectropolarimetric mode. <BR /> Results: Our measurements of the magnetic field with the moment technique using spectral lines of several elements separately reveal the presence of a weak longitudinal magnetic field, a quadratic magnetic field, and the crossover effect on the surface of several HgMn stars as well as normal and superficially normal B-type stars. Furthermore, our analysis suggests the existence of intriguing correlations between the strength of the magnetic field, abundance anomalies, and binary properties. The results are discussed in the context of possible mechanisms responsible for the development of the element patches and complex magnetic fields on the surface of late B-type stars. Based on observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory (ESO programmes 076.D-0169(A), 076.D-0172(A), 084.D-0338(A), 085.D-0296(A), 085.D-0296(B), 087.D-0049(A), 088.D-0284(A)), SOFIN observations at the 2.56 m Nordic Optical Telescope on La Palma, and observations obtained with the CORALIE Echelle Spectrograph on the 1.2 m Euler Swiss telescope on La Silla, Chile.Tables 2-7, 9, 10 are only available in electronic form at <A href="http://www.aanda.org">http://www.aanda.org</A> [less ▲]

Magnetic field studies of massive main sequence stars

in American Institute of Physics Conference Series (2012, May 01)

We report on the status of our spectropolarimetric observations of massive stars. During the last years, we have discovered magnetic fields in many objects of the upper main sequence, including Be stars ... [more ▼]

We report on the status of our spectropolarimetric observations of massive stars. During the last years, we have discovered magnetic fields in many objects of the upper main sequence, including Be stars, β Cephei and Slowly Pulsating B stars, and a dozen O stars. Since the effects of those magnetic fields have been found to be substantial by recent models, we are looking into their impact on stellar rotation, pulsation, and stellar winds. Accurate studies of the age, environment, and kinematic characteristics of the magnetic stars are also promising to give us new insight into the origin of the magnetic fields. Furthermore, longer time series of magnetic field measurements allow us to observe the temporal variability of the magnetic field and to deduce the stellar rotation periods and the magnetic field geometry. Studies of the magnetic field in massive stars are indispensable to understand the conditions controlling the presence of those fields and their implications for the stellar physical parameters and evolution. [less ▲]

Magnetic field studies of massive main sequence stars

in Astronomische Nachrichten (2011), 332

We report on the status of our spectropolarimetric observations of massive stars. During the last years, we have discovered magnetic fields in many objects of the upper main sequence, including Be stars ... [more ▼]

We report on the status of our spectropolarimetric observations of massive stars. During the last years, we have discovered magnetic fields in many objects of the upper main sequence, including Be stars, β Cephei and Slowly Pulsating B stars, and a dozen O stars. Since the effects of those magnetic fields have been found to be substantial by recent models, we are looking into their impact on stellar rotation, pulsation, stellar winds, and chemical abundances. Accurate studies of the age, environment, and kinematic characteristics of the magnetic stars are also promising to give us new insight into the origin of the magnetic fields. Furthermore, longer time series of magnetic field measurements allow us to observe the temporal variability of the magnetic field and to deduce the stellar rotation period and the magnetic field geometry. Studies of the magnetic field in massive stars are indispensable to understand the conditions controlling the presence of those fields and their implications on the stellar physical parameters and evolution. [less ▲]

Magnetic Fields of Hot Pulsating Stars

in Magnetic Stars. Proceedings of the International Conference, held in the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian AS, August 27- September 1, 2010, Eds: I. I. Romanyuk and D. O. Kudryavtsev (2011)

In spite of recent detections of magnetic fields in a number of β Cephei and slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars, their impact on stellar rotation, pulsations, and element diffusion is not sufficiently studied ... [more ▼]

In spite of recent detections of magnetic fields in a number of β Cephei and slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars, their impact on stellar rotation, pulsations, and element diffusion is not sufficiently studied yet. One reason for this is the lack of knowledge of rotation periods, magnetic field strength distribution and temporal variability, and field geometry. New longitudinal field measurements of four β Cephei and candidate β Cephei stars, and two SPB stars were acquired with the FORS2 at the VLT. These measurements allowed us to carry out a search for rotation periods and to constrain magnetic field geometry for a few stars in our sample. [less ▲]

New magnetic field measurements of beta Cephei stars and slowly pulsating B stars

in IAU Symposium (2009, April 01)

We present the results of the continuation of our magnetic survey with FORS 1 at the VLT of a sample of B-type stars consisting of confirmed or candidate β Cephei stars and Slowly Pulsating B stars ... [more ▼]

We present the results of the continuation of our magnetic survey with FORS 1 at the VLT of a sample of B-type stars consisting of confirmed or candidate β Cephei stars and Slowly Pulsating B stars. Roughly one third of the studied β Cephei stars have detected magnetic fields. The fraction of magnetic Slowly Pulsating B and candidate Slowly Pulsating B stars is found to be higher, up to 50%. We find that the domains of magnetic and non-magnetic pulsating stars in the H-R diagram largely overlap, and no clear picture emerges as to the possible evolution of the magnetic field across the main sequence. [less ▲]

New insights into the nature of the peculiar star theta Carinae

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2008), 488

Context: θ Carinae belongs to a group of peculiar early-type stars (OBN) with enhanced nitrogen and carbon deficiency. It is also known as a binary system, but it is not clear yet whether the chemical ... [more ▼]

Context: θ Carinae belongs to a group of peculiar early-type stars (OBN) with enhanced nitrogen and carbon deficiency. It is also known as a binary system, but it is not clear yet whether the chemical anomalies can be explained by mass transfer between the two components. On the basis of the previously reported spectral variability of a few metal lines it may be expected that θ Car possesses a weak magnetic field. <BR />Aims: A study of the physical nature of this hot massive binary which is furthermore a well-known blue straggler lying ~2 mag above the turnoff of the young open cluster IC 2602 is important to understand the origin of its strong chemical anomalies. <BR />Methods: We acquired high resolution spectroscopic and low resolution spectropolarimetric observations to achieve the following goals: a) to improve the orbital parameters to allow a more in-depth discussion on the possibility of mass transfer in the binary system; b) to carry out a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) abundance analysis; and c) to search for the presence of a magnetic field. <BR />Results: The study of the radial velocities using CORALIE spectra allowed us to significantly improve the orbital parameters. A comparative NLTE abundance analysis was undertaken for θ Car and two other early B-type stars with recently detected magnetic fields, Ï Sco and ξ[SUP]1[/SUP] CMa. The analysis revealed significantly different abundance patterns: a one-order-of-magnitude nitrogen overabundance and carbon depletion was found in θ Car, while the oxygen abundance is roughly solar. For the stars ξ[SUP]1[/SUP] CMa and Ï Sco the carbon abundance is solar and, while an N excess is also detected, it is of much smaller amplitude (0.4-0.6 dex). Such an N overabundance is typical of the values already found for other slowly-rotating (magnetic) B-type dwarfs. For θ Car, we attribute instead the chemical peculiarities to a past episode of mass transfer between the two binary components. The results of the search for a magnetic field using FORS 1 at the VLT consisting of 26 measurements over a time span of ~1.2 h are rather inconclusive: only few measurements have a significance level of 3Ï . Although we detect a periodicity of the order of ~8.8 min in the dataset involving the measurements on all hydrogen Balmer lines with the exception of the Hα and Hβ lines, these results have to be confirmed by additional time-resolved magnetic field observations. Based on observations collected with the CORALIE spectrograph attached to the Euler Telescope of the Geneva Observatory located at La Silla (Chile), at the European Southern Observatory, Paranal, Chile (ESO programmes 67.D-0239(A), 072.D-0377(A), 078.D-0080(A) and 278.D-5056(A)), and at the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO), Argentina. [less ▲]

A comparative study of B-type pulsators and non-pulsating chemically peculiar Bp stars

in Communications in Asteroseismology (2007), 150

We carry out a comparative study between a sample of confirmed and well-studied B-type pulsators and a sample of well-studied Bp stars with known periods and magnetic field strengths. Our study indicates ... [more ▼]

We carry out a comparative study between a sample of confirmed and well-studied B-type pulsators and a sample of well-studied Bp stars with known periods and magnetic field strengths. Our study indicates that the group of Bp stars is younger than the group of SPB stars and that stars with stronger magnetic fields have much lower pulsation amplitudes. [less ▲]

Discovery of Magnetic Fields in Slowly Pulsating B Stars

in Active OB-Stars: Laboratories for Stellar and Circumstellar Physics, ASP Conference Series, Vol. 361, Proceedings of the conference held 29 August - 2 September, 2005 at Hokkai-Gakuen University, Sapporo, Japan. (2007, March 01)

We present the first observations and conclusions of a magnetic survey with FORS 1 at the VLT of a sample of 25 Slowly Pulsating B stars. A clear mean longitudinal magnetic field of the order of a few ... [more ▼]

We present the first observations and conclusions of a magnetic survey with FORS 1 at the VLT of a sample of 25 Slowly Pulsating B stars. A clear mean longitudinal magnetic field of the order of a few hundred Gauss was detected in eleven SPBs. Among them several SPBs show a magnetic field that varies in time. It becomes clear that SPBs cannot be regarded anymore as non-magnetic stars. [less ▲]

Discovery of magnetic fields in the βCephei star ξ1 CMa and in several slowly pulsating B stars*

in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2006), 369

We present the results of a magnetic survey of a sample of eight βCephei stars and 26 slowly pulsating B (SPBs) stars with the FOcal Reducer low dispersion Spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope. A weak ... [more ▼]

We present the results of a magnetic survey of a sample of eight βCephei stars and 26 slowly pulsating B (SPBs) stars with the FOcal Reducer low dispersion Spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope. A weak mean longitudinal magnetic field of the order of a few hundred Gauss is detected in the βCephei star ξ[SUP]1[/SUP]CMa and in 13 SPB stars. The star ξ[SUP]1[/SUP]CMa becomes the third magnetic star among the βCephei stars. Before our study, the star ζCas was the only known magnetic SPB star. All magnetic SPB stars for which we gathered several magnetic field measurements show a field that varies in time. We do not find a relation between the evolution of the magnetic field with stellar age in our small sample. Our observations imply that βCephei and SPB stars can no longer be considered as classes of non-magnetic pulsators, but the effect of the fields on the oscillation properties remains to be studied. [less ▲]