Magnetic fields in white dwarfs and stellar evolution

Abstract

The surface magnetic field strengths observed in the magnetic Ap, Bp stars (100–20 000 G) and in the high field magnetic white dwarfs (106–109 G) cover many decades but nevertheless the range of magnetic fluxes observed in each of these stellar groups is similar. An evolutionary link between them therefore appears plausible. For both groups of stars there is also information on field complexity. The magnetic white dwarfs in general show non-dipole field structures which can be best modelled if we assume contributions from higher order multipoles. The field structures of the Ap and Bp stars are similarly complex. We investigate the hypothesis that the magnetic fields of the white dwarfs could be fossil remnants from the main-sequence phase by focussing on the problem of how field complexity may arise and be maintained during evolution to the compact star state. We also address the question of to what extent magnetic fields seen in the early type stars could be fossil remnants from the pre-main-sequence phases of stellar evolution dating back perhaps to the time of star formation.