Generation and evolution of stable stellar magnetic fields in young A-type stars

Abstract

While the presence of magnetic fields on low-mass stars is attributed to a dynamo process essentially driven by convective motions, the existence of magnetic fields on intermediate-mass stars has very likely other reasons. Presuming that the fields we see are nearly constant in time, the paper focuses on the generation of stable magnetic configurations at the early stages of stellar evolution. The convective processing of an initial magnetic field during the pre-main-sequence phase is studied in a very simple model star. Azimuthal magnetic fields are found to be typical remnants in the upcoming radiative envelope after the convection has receded.

10 pages; to appear in the proceedings of the conference "Putting A Stars into Context: Evolution, Environment, and Related Stars"