Magnetic B-type stars of the main sequence. I. Problem formulation and selection of objects for observations

Abstract

This paper reviews the current state of the problem of magnetism in massive Main Sequence stars. Chemically peculiar Bp stars with enhanced silicon lines and anomalous helium lines in their spectra are shown to be the most promising targets for the observational verification of various mechanisms of the formation and subsequent evolution of magnetic fields in CP stars. A catalog of magnetic Bp stars, containing 125 objects is prepared. Applying different criteria, we compiled a variety of magnetic star samples, which were then used to analyze magnetic fields in objects of different ages. The results of this analysis show that massive stars generally have stronger fields in all the samples studied, and thus confirm earlier results based on smaller star samples. No tight relation is observed and the parameters of individual objects show a very large scatter about the mean relation. The strongest and most complex fields are found in the youngest Bp stars with ages below 30 Myr. Magnetic Bp stars generally rotate slower than normal B-type stars, except for the hottest objects with enhanced helium lines, which have normal rotation velocities. No systematic differences are found between the angular rotation velocities of Bp stars with anomalous helium and silicon lines. We discuss various criteria, which can be used to observationally test the alternative mechanisms of formation and evolution of magnetic fields in CP stars and, in particular, to quantitatively compare not only the magnitudes, but also the topology of fields in objects of different ages.