Modeling of Magneto-Rotational Stellar Evolution I. Method and first applications

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new self-consistent framework for modeling stellar evolution that incorporates magnetic fields, rotation, and mass loss, and demonstrates its application to 1.5 solar mass stars, reproducing observed stellar properties.

Contribution

The paper develops a novel 1D formalism for magneto-rotational stellar evolution, integrating magnetic field effects into existing models and applying it to simulate realistic stellar behaviors.

Findings

Models reproduce observed properties of Ap/Bp stars.

Simulations show near-rigid rotation due to Alfven waves.

Core-envelope coupling matches asteroseismic data.

Abstract

While magnetic fields have long been considered to be important for the evolution of magnetic non-degenerate stars and compact stars, it has become clear in recent years that actually all of the stars are deeply affected. This is particularly true regarding their internal angular momentum distribution, but magnetic fields may also influence internal mixing processes and even the fate of the star. We propose a new framework for stellar evolution simulations, in which the interplay between magnetic field, rotation, mass loss, and changes in the stellar density and temperature distributions are treated self-consistently. For average large-scale stellar magnetic fields which are symmetric to the axis of rotation of the star, we derive 1D evolution equations for the toroidal and poloidal components from the mean-field MHD equation by applying Alfven's theorem, and a conservative form of the angular momentum transfer due to the Lorentz force is formulated. We implement our formalism into a numerical stellar evolution code and simulate the magneto-rotational evolution of 1.5 M$_\odot$ stars. The Lorentz force aided by the $\Omega$ effect imposes torsional Alfven waves propagating through the magnetized medium, leading to near-rigid rotation within the Alfven timescale. Our models with different initial spins and B-fields can reproduce the main observed properties of Ap/Bp stars. Calculations continued to the red-giant regime show a pronounced core-envelope coupling, which reproduces the core and surface rotation periods determined by asteroseismic observations.