Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-11-11
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
7 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Astron. Nachr., color figures at http://www.aip.de/People/rarlt/ap
Scientific paper
Ap star magnetism is often attributed to fossil magnetic fields which have not changed much since the pre-main-sequence epoch of the stars. Stable magnetic field configurations are known which could persist probably for the entire main-sequence life of the star, but they may not show the complexity and diversity exhibited by the Ap stars observed. We suggest that the Ap star magnetism is not a result of stable configurations, but is the result of an instability based on strong toroidal magnetic fields buried in the stars. The highly nonaxisymmetric remainders of the instability are reminiscent of the diversity of fields seen on Ap stars. The strengths of these remnant magnetic fields is actually between a few per cent up to considerable fractions of the internal toroidal field; this means field strengths of the order of kGauss being compatible with what is observed. The magnetic fields emerge at the surface rather quickly; rough estimates deliver time-scales of the order of a few years. Since rotation stabilizes the instability, normal A stars may still host considerable, invisible toroidal magnetic fields.
Arlt Rainer
Ruediger Guenther
No associations
LandOfFree
Magnetic fields of Ap stars as a result of an instability does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Magnetic fields of Ap stars as a result of an instability, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Magnetic fields of Ap stars as a result of an instability will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-431225