Mixed poloidal-toroidal magnetic configuration and surface abundance distributions of the Bp star 36 Lyn

TL;DR

This study analyzes the magnetic field and surface element distributions of the Bp star 36 Lyn, revealing a complex mixed poloidal-toroidal magnetic configuration and element inhomogeneities correlated with magnetic features.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed magnetic maps of 36 Lyn showing a predominantly dipolar field with significant toroidal components, and links surface abundance variations to magnetic topology.

Findings

Magnetic field is mainly dipolar with notable toroidal component.

Surface abundances of helium, silicon, titanium, and iron are spatially correlated with magnetic regions.

Magnetic field deviates from a pure dipole, indicating complex magnetic topology.

Abstract

Previous studies of the chemically peculiar Bp star 36 Lyn revealed a moderately strong magnetic field, circumstellar material, and inhomogeneous surface abundance distributions of certain elements. We present in this paper an analysis of 33 high-signal-to-noise ratio, high-resolution Stokes IV observations of 36 Lyn obtained with the Narval spectropolarimeter at the Bernard Lyot telescope at Pic du Midi Observatory. From these data, we compute new measurements of the mean longitudinal magnetic field, Bl, using the multi-line least-squares deconvolution (LSD) technique. A rotationally phased Bl curve reveals a strong magnetic field, with indications for deviation from a pure dipole field. We derive magnetic maps and chemical abundance distributions from the LSD profiles, produced using the Zeeman Doppler Imaging code InversLSD. Using a spherical harmonic expansion to characterize the magnetic field, we find that the harmonic energy is concentrated predominantly in the dipole mode (l = 1), with significant contribution from both the poloidal and toroidal components. This toroidal field component is predicted theoretically, but not typically observed for Ap/Bp stars. Chemical abundance maps reveal a helium enhancement in a distinct region where the radial magnetic field is strong. Silicon enhancements are located in two regions, also where the radial field is stronger. Titanium and iron enhancements are slightly offset from the helium enhancements, and are located in areas where the radial field is weak, close to the magnetic equator.