Masers and Stellar Magnetic Fields
Abstract
Observations of circular polarization of molecular masers associated with late-type giant and supergiant stars can be used to estimate the magnetic field strength in the masing region. Magnetic field strengths of about 5 mG are deduced for OH masers in circumstellar envelopes at distances of near 10 to the 16th cm from the star, and magnetic field strengths of about 50 G are deduced for SiO masers that reside above the photosphere. Extrapolation to the stellar photosphere suggests that average surface magnetic fields are on the order fo 1000 G.
- Publication:
-
Galactic and Intergalactic Magnetic Fields
- Pub Date:
- 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990IAUS..140...21R
- Keywords:
-
- Giant Stars;
- Interstellar Masers;
- Late Stars;
- Stellar Magnetic Fields;
- Circular Polarization;
- Hydroxyl Radicals;
- Magnetic Flux;
- Silicon Oxides;
- Stellar Envelopes;
- Supergiant Stars;
- Astrophysics