Magnetic fields and internal mixing of main sequence B stars

TL;DR

This study investigates whether magnetic fields in main sequence B stars influence internal mixing and surface rotation by analyzing magnetic measurements and nitrogen-to-carbon abundance ratios.

Contribution

It provides empirical data linking magnetic fields to internal mixing processes in B stars, testing a hypothesis about magnetic influence on stellar rotation and chemical surface enrichment.

Findings

Magnetic fields are present in some N-rich B stars.

Magnetic fields may contribute to enhanced internal mixing.

Magnetic influence correlates with surface chemical anomalies.

Abstract

We have obtained high-quality magnetic field measurements of 19 sharp-lined B-type stars with precisely-measured N/C abundance ratios. Our primary goal is to test the idea that a magnetic field may explain extra drag (through the wind) on the surface rotation, thus producing more internal shear and mixing, and thus could provide an explanation for the appearance of slowly rotating N-rich main sequence B stars.