Kilo-gauss magnetic fields in three DA white dwarfs
Jan, 2005
6 pages
Part of Proceedings, 14th European White Dwarf Workshop (EUROWD 04) : Kiel, Germany, July 19-23, 2004, 159
Published in:
- ASP Conf.Ser. 334 (2005) 159
Contribution to:
- , 159
- EUROWD 04
- Published: 2005
e-Print:
- astro-ph/0501191 [astro-ph]
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Abstract: (Astronomical Society of the Pacific)
We have detected longitudinal magnetic fields between 2 and 4 kG in three normal DA white dwarfs (WD0446−790, WD1105−048, WD2359−434) out of a sample of 12 by using optical spectropolarimetry done with the VLT Antu 8 m telescope equipped with FORS1. With the exception of 40 Eri B (4 kG) these are the first positive detections of magnetic fields in white dwarfs below 30 kG. A detection rate of 25% (3/12) may indicate now for the first time that a substantial fraction of white dwarfs have weak magnetic fields. This result, if confirmed by future observations, would form a cornerstone for our understanding of the evolution of stellar magnetic fields.References(19)
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