Magnetic fields in classical Be stars

TL;DR

This study investigates magnetic fields in classical Be stars using spectropolarimetry, revealing weak magnetic fields and cyclic variability in some stars, which enhances understanding of their magnetic properties.

Contribution

It provides new spectropolarimetric measurements of magnetic fields in Be stars, highlighting their weakness and variability, which was less understood before.

Findings

Magnetic fields are weak, not exceeding ~150G.

Some Be stars show cyclic magnetic variability over tens of minutes.

Magnetic fields in Be stars are generally weak and variable.

Abstract

We report the results of our study of magnetic fields in a sample of Be stars using spectropolarimetric data obtained at the European Southern Observatory with the multi-mode instrument FORS1 installed at the 8m Kueyen telescope. The detected magnetic fields are rather weak, not stronger than ~150G. A few classical Be stars display cyclic variability of the magnetic field with periods of tens of minutes.