A conclusive non-detection of magnetic field in the Am star o Peg with high-precision near-infrared spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study uses high-precision near-infrared spectroscopy and advanced spectral analysis to conclusively show that the Am star o Peg does not possess a magnetic field stronger than 260 G, refuting previous claims of kG-level magnetism.

Contribution

The paper provides the first high-precision, multi-technique analysis that conclusively rules out strong magnetic fields in o Peg, challenging earlier reports of magnetic detection in this star.

Findings

No Zeeman broadening detected in near-infrared sulphur lines.

Longitudinal magnetic field measurements are consistent with zero within 2 G.

Magnetic field strength in o Peg is below 260 G, effectively non-magnetic.

Abstract

The A-type metallic-line (Am) stars are typically considered to be non-magnetic or possessing very weak sub-G magnetic fields. This view has been repeatedly challenged in the literature, most commonly for the bright hot Am star o Peg. Several studies claimed to detect 1-2 kG field of unknown topology in this object, possibly indicating a new process of magnetic field generation in intermediate-mass stars. In this study, we revisit the evidence of a strong magnetic field in o Peg using new high-resolution spectropolarimetric observations and advanced spectral fitting techniques. The mean magnetic field strength in o Peg is estimated from the high-precision CRIRES+ measurement of near-infrared sulphur lines. This observation is modelled with a polarised radiative transfer code, including treatment of the departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium. In addition, the least-squares deconvolution multi-line technique is employed to derive longitudinal field measurements from archival optical spectropolarimetric observations of this star. Our analysis of the near-infrared S I lines reveals no evidence of Zeeman broadening, ruling out magnetic field with a strength exceeding 260 G. This null result is compatible with the relative intensification of Fe II lines in the optical spectrum taking into account blending and uncertain atomic parameters of the relevant diagnostic transitions. Longitudinal field measurements at three different nights also yield null results with a precision of 2 G. This study refutes the claims of kG-strength dipolar or tangled magnetic field in o Peg. This star is effectively non-magnetic, with the surface magnetic field characteristics no different from those of other Am stars.