The magnetic field of Sigma Orionis E.
Abstract
A magnetic field has been detected in the peculiar variable helium-rich B2 star Sigma Ori E. The field varies between minus 2300 and plus 3100 gauss with the 1.19-day period of the spectroscopic and light variations of the star. It is suggested that the detection of this field allows all the variable phenomena of Sigma Ori E to be understood in terms of an oblique-rotator model in which hot gas is trapped in a magnetosphere above the magnetic equator and atmospheric helium enhancement has accurred preferentially in a magnetosphere above the magnetic equator and atmospheric helium enhancement has occurred preferentially in a zone around the magnetic equator.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1086/182746
- Bibcode:
- 1978ApJ...224L...5L
- Keywords:
-
- B Stars;
- Line Spectra;
- Magnetic Stars;
- Stellar Atmospheres;
- Stellar Magnetic Fields;
- Emission Spectra;
- H Alpha Line;
- Helium;
- Magnetic Equator;
- Variable Stars;
- Astrophysics;
- Magnetic Stars:Oblique Rotators;
- Magnetic Stars:Spectrum Variables