Origin and evolution of magnetic fields in PMS stars : influence of rotation and structural changes

TL;DR

This study uses 3D simulations to explore how stellar structure and rotation during PMS evolution influence magnetic field development, revealing increasing magnetic complexity and strength as stars approach the ZAMS.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the evolution of magnetic fields in PMS stars by systematically analyzing the effects of rotation and structural changes through advanced simulations.

Findings

Magnetic field strength increases as stars evolve toward ZAMS.

Magnetic topology becomes more complex with decreasing axisymmetry.

Dynamo magnetic fields in radiative cores are stable and relax slowly.

Abstract

During stellar evolution, especially in the PMS, stellar structure and rotation evolve significantly causing major changes in the dynamics and global flows of the star. We wish to assess the consequences of these changes on stellar dynamo, internal magnetic field topology and activity level. To do so, we have performed a series of 3D HD and MHD simulations with the ASH code. We choose five different models characterized by the radius of their radiative zone following an evolutionary track computed by a 1D stellar evolution code. These models characterized stellar evolution from 1 Myr to 50 Myr. By introducing a seed magnetic field in the fully convective model and spreading its evolved state through all four remaining cases, we observe systematic variations in the dynamical properties and magnetic field amplitude and topology of the models. The five MHD simulations develop strong dynamo field that can reach equipartition state between the kinetic and magnetic energy and even super- equipartition levels in the faster rotating cases. We find that the magnetic field amplitude increases as it evolves toward the ZAMS. Moreover the magnetic field topology becomes more complex, with a decreasing axisymmetric component and a non-axisymmetric one becoming predominant. The dipolar components decrease as the rotation rate and the size of the radiative core increase. The magnetic fields possess a mixed poloidal-toroidal topology with no obvious dominant component. Moreover the relaxation of the vestige dynamo magnetic field within the radiative core is found to satisfy MHD stability criteria. Hence it does not experience a global reconfiguration but slowly relaxes by retaining its mixed stable poloidal-toroidal topology.