New observations of NGC 1624−2 reveal a complex magnetospheric structure and underlying surface magnetic geometry

ABSTRACT NGC 1624−2 is the most strongly magnetized O-type star known. Previous spectroscopic observations of this object in the ultraviolet provided evidence that it hosts a large and dense circumstellar magnetosphere. Follow-up observations obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope not only confirm...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2021-02, Vol.501 (2), p.2677-2687
Main Authors: David-Uraz, A, Petit, V, Shultz, M E, Fullerton, A W, Erba, C, Keszthelyi, Z, Seadrow, S, Wade, G A
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:ABSTRACT NGC 1624−2 is the most strongly magnetized O-type star known. Previous spectroscopic observations of this object in the ultraviolet provided evidence that it hosts a large and dense circumstellar magnetosphere. Follow-up observations obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope not only confirm that previous inference, but also suggest that NGC 1624−2’s magnetosphere has a complex structure. Furthermore, an expanded spectropolarimetric time series shows a potential departure from a dipolar magnetic field geometry, which could mean that the strongest field detected at the surface of an O-type star is also topologically complex. This result raises important questions regarding the origin and evolution of magnetic fields in massive stars.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/staa3768