scholarly journals Discovery of six new strongly magnetic white dwarfs in the 20 pc local population

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Bagnulo ◽  
John D. Landstreet
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Longitudinal Component ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
Circular Polarisation ◽  
Cool White Dwarfs ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The sample of white dwarfs included in the local 20 pc volume documents, fairly accurately, the total production of white dwarfs over roughly 10 Gyr of stellar evolution in this part of the Milky Way Galaxy. In this sample, we have been systematically searching for magnetic white dwarfs. Here we report the discovery of six new magnetic white dwarfs, with a field strength from a few MG to about 200 MG. Two of these stars show H lines that are split and polarised by the magnetic field. One star shows extremely weak spectral lines in intensity, to which highly polarised narrow features correspond. The three other stars have featureless flux spectra, but show continuum polarisation. These new discoveries support the view that at least 20% of all white dwarfs in the local 20 pc volume have magnetic fields, and they fully confirm the suspicion that magnetism is a common rather than a rare characteristic of white dwarfs. We discuss the level and the handedness of the continuum polarisation in the presence of a magnetic field in cool white dwarfs. We suggest that a magnetic field with a 15 MG longitudinal component produces 1% of continuum circular polarisation. We have also shown that the problem of cross-talk from linear to circular polarisation of the FORS2 instrument, used in our survey, represents an obstacle to accurate measurements of the circular polarisation of faint white dwarfs when the background is illuminated, and polarised, by the moon.

scholarly journals Discovery of weak magnetic fields in four DZ white dwarfs in the local 20 pc volume

2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A65 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bagnulo ◽  
J. D. Landstreet
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Weak Magnetic Fields ◽  
Polluted Atmosphere ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Cool White Dwarfs ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Made In

We report the discovery of weak magnetic fields in three white dwarfs within the local 20 pc volume (WD 0816−310, WD 1009−184, and WD 1532+129), and we confirm the magnetic nature of a fourth star (WD 2138−332) in which we had previously detected a field at a 3σ level. The spectra of all these white dwarfs are characterised by the presence of metal lines and lack of H and He lines, that is, they belong to the spectral class DZ. The polarisation signal of the Ca II H+K lines of WD 1009−184 is particularly spectacular, with an amplitude of 20% that is due to the presence of a magnetic field with an average line-of-sight component of 40 kG. We have thus established that at least 40% of the known DZ white dwarfs with an He-rich atmosphere contained in the 20 pc volume have a magnetic field, while further observations are needed to establish whether the remaining DZ white dwarfs in the same volume are magnetic or not. Metal lines in the spectra of DZ white dwarfs are thought to have originated by accretion from rocky debris, and it might be argued that a link exists between metal accretion and higher occurrence of magnetism. However, we are not able to distinguish whether the magnetic field and the presence of a polluted atmosphere have a common origin, or if it is the presence of metal lines that allows us to detect a higher frequency of magnetic fields in cool white dwarfs, which would otherwise have featureless spectra. We argue that the new highly sensitive longitudinal field measurements that we have made in recent years are consistent with the idea that the magnetic field appears more frequently in older than in younger white dwarfs.

scholarly journals On the Orientation of Magnetic Fields in Quiescent Prominences

1971 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 656-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Anzer ◽  
E. Tandberg-Hanssen
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Distribution Function ◽  
Zeeman Effect ◽  
General Rule ◽  
Longitudinal Component ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
The Other ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Quiescent Prominence ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The longitudinal component of the magnetic field in quiescent prominences has been measured directly with magnetographs using the Zeeman effect on selected spectral lines (Rust, 1966; Ioshpa, 1968; Harvey, 1969). We know that as a general rule the magnetic field enters the, largely-vertical, sheet-like quiescent prominence on one side and exits on the other. The field traverses the prominence plasma with components both along and at right angles to the long axis of the prominence. It is the purpose of this paper to describe observations that may indicate the relative importance of the two components of the magnetic field, and to derive a distribution function for the magnetic field vectors.

Magnetic Field Spectroheliograms from the San Fernando Observatory

1971 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 329-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale Vrabec
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Spiral Structure ◽  
Longitudinal Component ◽  
Solar Telescope ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields ◽  
San Fernando ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Network

Zeeman spectroheliograms of photospheric magnetic fields (longitudinal component) in the CaI 6102.7 Å line are being obtained with the new 61-cm vacuum solar telescope and spectroheliograph, using the Leighton technique. The structure of the magnetic field network appears identical to the bright photospheric network visible in the cores of many Fraunhofer lines and in CN spectroheliograms, with the exception that polarities are distinguished. This supports the evolving concept that solar magnetic fields outside of sunspots exist in small concentrations of essentially vertically oriented field, roughly clumped to form a network imbedded in the otherwise field-free photosphere. A timelapse spectroheliogram movie sequence spanning 6 hr revealed changes in the magnetic fields, including a systematic outward streaming of small magnetic knots of both polarities within annular areas surrounding several sunspots. The photospheric magnetic fields and a series of filtergrams taken at various wavelengths in the Hα profile starting in the far wing are intercompared in an effort to demonstrate that the dark strands of arch filament systems (AFS) and fibrils map magnetic field lines in the chromosphere. An example of an active region in which the magnetic fields assume a distinct spiral structure is presented.

scholarly journals Broadband Linear Polarization in Ap Stars

1993 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 305-309
Author(s):  
Marco Landolfi ◽  
Egidio Landi Degl’Innocenti ◽  
Maurizio Landi Degl’Innocenti ◽  
Jean-Louis Leroy ◽  
Stefano Bagnulo
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Circular Polarization ◽  
Linear Polarization ◽  
Rotation Axis ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Rotating Star ◽  
Ap Stars ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractBroadband linear polarization in the spectra of Ap stars is believed to be due to differential saturation between σ and π Zeeman components in spectral lines. This mechanism has been known for a long time to be the main agent of a similar phenomenon observed in sunspots. Since this phenomenon has been carefully calibrated in the solar case, it can be confidently used to deduce the magnetic field of Ap stars.Given the magnetic configuration of a rotating star, it is possible to deduce the broadband polarization at any phase. Calculations performed for the oblique dipole model show that the resulting polarization diagrams are very sensitive to the values of i (the angle between the rotation axis and the line of sight) and β (the angle between the rotation and magnetic axes). The dependence on i and β is such that the four-fold ambiguity typical of the circular polarization observations ((i,β), (β,i), (π-i,π-β), (π-β,π-i)) can be removed.

scholarly journals Modelling of the Magnetic Configuration of CP Stars from Polarimetric Observations

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 679-681
Author(s):  
M. Landolfi
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Stokes Parameter ◽  
Quadratic Field ◽  
Mean Field ◽  
Longitudinal Component ◽  
Stokes Parameters ◽  
Longitudinal Field ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Polarized Radiation

The observational quantities commonly used to study the magnetic field of CP stars – the mean field modulus and the mean longitudinal field, as well as the ‘mean asymmetry of the longitudinal field’ and the ‘mean quadratic field’ recently introduced by Mathys (1995a,b) – are based either on the Stokes parameter / or on the Stokes parameter V. However, a complete description of polarized radiation requires the knowledge of the full Stokes vector: in other words, we should expect that useful information is also contained in linear polarization (the Stokes parameters Q and U); or rather we should expect the information contained in (Q, U) and in V to be complementary, since linear and circular polarization are basically related to the transverse and the longitudinal component of the magnetic field, respectively.

scholarly journals The magnetic field of β Cep and the Be phenomenon

2000 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 324-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.F. Henrichs ◽  
J.A. de Jong ◽  
J.-F. Donati ◽  
C. Catala ◽  
G.A. Wade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Longitudinal Magnetic Field ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
Be Stars ◽  
Full Paper ◽  
Rapid Rotation ◽  
Rotator Model ◽  
Maximum Field ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractNew circular spectropolarimetric observations of the B1 IIIe star β Cep (υsini = 25 km s−1) show a sinusoidally varying weak longitudinal magnetic field (~ 200 G peak-to-peak). The period corresponds to the 12 day period in the stellar wind variations observed in ultraviolet spectral lines. Maximum field occurs at maximum emission in the UV wind lines. This gives compelling evidence for a magnetic-rotator model for this star, with an unambiguous rotation period of 12 days.The similarity between the Hα emission phases in β Cep and in Be stars suggests that the origin of the Be phenomenon does not have to be rapid rotation: we propose that in β Cep the velocity to bring material in (Keplerian) orbit is provided by the high corotation velocity at the Alfvén radius (~10 R*), whereas in Be stars this is done by the rapid rotation of the surface. In both cases the cause of the emission phases has still to be found. Weak temporary magnetic fields remain the strongest candidate.A full paper, with results including additional measurements in June and July 1999, will appear in A & A.

scholarly journals Magnetic fields of rapidly oscillating Ap stars

1993 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 132-132
Author(s):  
G. Mathys
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Zeeman Effect ◽  
Rotation Frequency ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
Driving Mechanism ◽  
Line Splitting ◽  
Ap Stars ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Magnetic field appears to play a major role in the pulsations of rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars. Understanding of the behaviour of these objects thus requires knowledge of their magnetic field. Such knowledge is in particular essential to interpret the modulation of the amplitude of the photometric variations (with a frequency very close to the rotation frequency of the star) and to understand the driving mechanism of the pulsation. Therefore, a systematic programme of study of the magnetic field of roAp stars has been started, of which preliminary (and still very partial) results are presented here.Magnetic fields of Ap stars can be diagnosed from the Zeeman effect that they induced in spectral lines either from the observation of line-splitting in high-resolution unpolarized spectra (which only occurs in favourable circumstances) or from the observation of circular polarization of the lines in medium- to high-resolution spectra.

scholarly journals Some Properties of Magnetic Variables

1971 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 59-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl D. Rakoš
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Light Curve ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Magnetic Pole ◽  
Yellow Light ◽  
The Past ◽  
Oblique Rotator ◽  
Ap Stars ◽  
The Magnetic Field

It is certain, that the mechanism causing variations of the magnetic field and spectral lines in Ap stars must also cause variations in their luminosities. The light curves are synchronous with the magnetic variations and usually the maximum of the positive magnetic field strength coincides with the minimum of the light curve. In the past the oblique rotator theory was not able to explain easily such brightness change. There is no simple reason to suppose, that the brightness of the surface of a star would increase or decrease at one magnetic pole only. Since that time a few stars were found with some indications for secondary minima and maxima in the light curves, but the first established double wave in a light curve was recently found by H. M. MAITZEN and K. D. RAKOš in HD 125 248 (1970), see Figure 1. It is a very exciting result, only the light curve in yellow light shows two maxima and two minima. The light curves in blue and ultraviolet are very smooth and show no evidence for secondary waves.

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