Magnetic fields, winds and X-rays of massive stars in the Orion Nebula Cluster
Abstract
In massive stars, magnetic fields are thought to confine the outflowing radiatively-driven wind, resulting in X-ray emission that is harder, more variable and more efficient than that produced by instability-generated shocks in non-magnetic winds. Although magnetic confinement of stellar winds has been shown to strongly modify the mass-loss and X-ray characteristics of massive OB stars, we lack a detailed understanding of the complex processes responsible. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between magnetism, stellar winds and X-ray emission of OB stars. In conjunction with a Chandra survey of the Orion Nebula Cluster, we carried out spectropolarimatric ESPaDOnS observations to determine the magnetic properties of massive OB stars of this cluster.
- Publication:
-
Cosmic Magnetic Fields: From Planets, to Stars and Galaxies
- Pub Date:
- April 2009
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0812.2356
- Bibcode:
- 2009IAUS..259..449P
- Keywords:
-
- Stars: magnetic fields;
- stars: mass loss;
- stars: early-type;
- X-rays: stars;
- techniques: polarimetric;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 2 pages, 1 figure Proceedings IAU Symposium No. 259, 2009 Cosmic Magnetic Fields: From Planets, to Stars and Galaxies