UVMag: stellar formation, evolution, structure and environment with space UV and visible spectropolarimetry

TL;DR

UVMag is a proposed space mission equipped with a high-resolution UV and visible spectropolarimeter designed to study stellar formation, evolution, and environments by measuring winds and magnetospheres, providing new insights into stellar physics.

Contribution

The paper introduces UVMag, a novel space-based spectropolarimeter mission that combines UV and visible observations to enhance understanding of stellar magnetospheres and winds.

Findings

Design of a high-resolution UV-visible spectropolarimeter

Potential to study star environments simultaneously in UV and visible

Enhanced capabilities for investigating stellar magnetic fields

Abstract

Important insights into the formation, structure, evolution and environment of all types of stars can be obtained through the measurement of their winds and possible magnetospheres. However, this has hardly been done up to now mainly because of the lack of UV instrumentation available for long periods of time. To reach this aim, we have designed UVMag, an M-size space mission equipped with a high-resolution spectropolarimeter working in the UV and visible spectral range. The UV domain is crucial in stellar physics as it is very rich in atomic and molecular lines and contains most of the flux of hot stars. Moreover, covering the UV and visible spectral domains at the same time will allow us to study the star and its environment simultaneously. Adding polarimetric power to the spectrograph will multiply tenfold the capabilities of extracting information on stellar magnetospheres, winds, disks, and magnetic fields. Examples of science objectives that can be reached with UVMag are presented for pre-main sequence, main sequence and evolved stars. They will cast new light onto stellar physics by addressing many exciting and important questions. UVMag is currently undergoing a Research and Technology study and will be proposed at the forthcoming ESA call for M-size missions. This spectropolarimeter could also be installed on a large UV and visible observatory (e.g. NASA's LUVOIR project) within a suite of instruments.