The BinaMIcS project: understanding the origin of magnetic fields in massive stars through close binary systems

TL;DR

The BinaMIcS project investigates how binarity influences the origin and evolution of magnetic fields in massive stars by studying magnetic properties in close binary systems, aiming to clarify the role of initial conditions versus other factors.

Contribution

This study introduces a focused observational approach to understanding fossil magnetic fields in massive stars through close binary systems, providing new insights into their formation and evolution.

Findings

Preliminary magnetic field detections in close binary systems.

Initial correlations between binarity and magnetic properties.

Enhanced understanding of fossil field origins in massive stars.

Abstract

It is now well established that a fraction of the massive (M>8 Msun) star population hosts strong, organised magnetic fields, most likely of fossil origin. The details of the generation and evolution of these fields are still poorly understood. The BinaMIcS project takes an important step towards the understanding of the interplay between binarity and magnetism during the stellar formation and evolution, and in particular the genesis of fossil fields, by studying the magnetic properties of close binary systems. The components of such systems are most likely formed together, at the same time and in the same environment, and can therefore help us to disentangle the role of initial conditions on the magnetic properties of the massive stars from other competing effects such as age or rotation. We present here the main scientific objectives of the BinaMIcS project, as well as preliminary results from the first year of observations from the associated ESPaDOnS and Narval spectropolarimetric surveys.