2004A&A...413.1087C -
Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 413, 1087-1093 (2004/1-3)
No evidence of a strong magnetic field in the Blazhko star RR Lyrae.
CHADID M., WADE G.A., SHORLIN S.L.S. and LANDSTREET J.D.
Abstract (from CDS):
In this paper we report a new series of high-precision (median σ
B∼80 G) longitudinal magnetic field measurements of RR Lyrae, the brightest Blazhko star, obtained with the MuSiCoS spectropolarimeter over a period of almost 4 years from 1999-2002. These data provide no evidence whatsoever for a strong magnetic field in the photosphere of RR Lyrae, a result consistent with Preston's (1967, The Magnetic and Related Stars, ed. R. C. Cameron (Baltimore: Mono Book Corporation), 26) results, but inconsistent with apparent magnetic field detections by Babcock (
1958ApJS....3..141B) and Romanov et al. (
1987PAZh...13...69R,
1994BSAO...38..169R). Following discussion of these disparate results, we conclude that RR Lyrae is a bona fide non-magnetic star, a conclusion which leads to the general falsification of models of the Blazkho effect requiring strong photospheric magnetic fields. Furthermore, due to the 4 year baseline of our observations, we can also dismiss the hypothesis that RR Lyrae undergoes a 4-year ``magnetic cycle''. Therefore the origin of the observed 4-year modulation of RR Lyrae remains unexplained, and we stress the need for additional theoretical efforts to come to a better understanding of this phenomenon.
Abstract Copyright:
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Journal keyword(s):
stars: variables: RR Lyr - stars: oscillations - stars: magnetic fields - stars: individual: RR Lyrae - techniques: spectroscopic, polarimetric
Simbad objects:
6
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