On the Temporal Variability in the Magnetic Dichotomy of Late M Dwarf Stars

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic variability in late M dwarf stars, proposing that differences in heat transport efficiency may explain the observed magnetic dichotomy, using a simplified dynamo model validated against paleomagnetic data.

Contribution

It introduces a low-dimensional magnetoconvection model to explore the magnetic behavior of fully convective M dwarfs, linking heat transport to magnetic variability and polarity reversals.

Findings

Increased heat transport leads to more frequent magnetic reversals.

Magnetic dichotomy may be due to differences in heat transport efficiency.

Model captures essential nonlinear dynamo dynamics despite simplifications.

Abstract

Rapidly rotating late M dwarfs are observed in two different branches of magnetic activity, although they operate in the same stellar parameter range. Current empirical evidence indicates that M dwarfs with spectral types ranging from M3 / M4 to late-type M dwarfs, stellar masses smaller than 0.15 M$_\odot$, and rotational period shorter than four days display either a stable dipolar magnetic field or magnetic structures with significant time variability. The magnetic activity of fully convective M dwarfs is known to be regulated by a mechanism named the ${\alpha}^2$ dynamo. To further constrain the physics of this mechanism, we use a low-dimensional model for thermally driven magnetoconvection producing an ${\alpha}^2$ dynamo, specifically a modified magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) shell model. Although the model neglects density stratification, it captures the essential nonlinear dynamics of an $\alpha^2$ dynamo. Therefore, the results should be interpreted in a qualitative sense, highlighting possible trends rather than providing direct quantitative predictions for fully convective stars. The model is validated by comparing the statistical properties of magnetic polarity reversals with paleomagnetic data, since the geodynamo provides the only natural ${\alpha}^2$ dynamo with sufficiently rich reversal statistics. Our findings reveal that increased convective heat transport correlates with more frequent magnetic-polarity reversals, resulting in enhanced magnetic variability. This suggests that the observed magnetic dichotomy in late M dwarfs could be interpreted in terms of differences in global heat transport efficiency. However, additional models and observations of M dwarfs are needed to further constrain this interpretation.