Related papers: The nature and origin of magnetic fields in early-…
It is now well-known that the surface magnetic fields observed in cool, lower-mass stars on the main sequence (MS) are generated by dynamos operating in their convective envelopes. However, higher-mass stars (above 1.5 Msun) pass their MS…
To properly understand the physics of upper main sequence stars it is particularly important to identify the origin of their magnetic fields. Recently, we confirmed that magnetic fields appear in Ap stars of mass below 3 M_sun only if they…
The recent years have brought great advances in our knowledge of magnetic fields in cool giant and supergiant stars. For example, starspots have been directly imaged on the surface of an active giant star using optical interferometry, and…
Massive stars are crucial building blocks of galaxies and the universe, as production sites of heavy elements and as stirring agents and energy providers through stellar winds and supernovae. The field of magnetic massive stars has seen…
Various types of magnetic fields occur in stars: small scale fields, large scale fields, and internal toroidal fields. While the latter may be ubiquitous in stars due to differential rotation, small scale fields (spots) may be associated…
A small fraction of the population of intermediate-mass and massive stars host strong and stable magnetic fields organised on large scales. These fields are believed to be remnants of star formation. It is however not clear how such fossil…
For several decades we have been cognizant of the presence of magnetic fields in early-type stars, but our understanding of their magnetic properties has recently (over the last decade) expanded due to the new generation of high-resolution…
Weak magnetic fields have recently been detected in Vega and Sirius. Here, we explore the possibility that these fields are the remnants of some field inherited or created during or shortly after star formation and, unlike true fossil…
In this review, I will summarise what we know about magnetic fields in stars and what the origin of these magnetic fields may be. I will address the issue of whether the magnetic flux is conserved from pre-main sequence to the compact star…
The origin of the substantial magnetic fields that are found in galaxies and on even larger scales, such as in clusters of galaxies, is yet unclear. If the second-order couplings between photons and electrons are considered, then…
In early-type stars a fossil magnetic field may be generated during the star formation process or be the result of a stellar merger event. Surface magnetic fields are thought to be erased by (sub)surface convection layers, which typically…
The observed galactic magnetic fields may have a primordial origin. I briefly review the observations, their interpretation in terms of the dynamo theory, and the current limits on cosmological magnetic fields. Several possible mechanisms…
Magnetic fields are considered to be key components of massive stars, with a far-reaching impact on their evolution and ultimate fate. A magnetic mechanism was suggested for the collimated explosion of massive stars, relevant for…
Observations of stable mainly dipolar magnetic fields at the surface of ~7% of single hot stars indicate that these fields are of fossil origin, i.e. they descend from the seed field in the molecular clouds from which the stars were formed.…
Although indirect evidence for the presence of magnetic fields in high-mass stars is regularly reported in the literature, the detection of these fields remains an extremely challenging observational problem. We review the recent…
A variety of observations suggest that magnetic fields are present in all galaxies and galaxy clusters. These fields are characterized by a modest strength (10^{-7}-10^{-5} G) and huge spatial scale (~Mpc). It is generally assumed that…
We present polarisation measurements of sdB and sdO stars using FORS1 on the VLT. The observations were made as part of a project to determine whether magnetic fields in two super-metal-rich stars can explain their extreme abundance…
This paper intends to give a broad overview of the present knowledge about neutron star magnetic fields, their origin and evolution. An up-to-date overview of the rich phenomenology (encompassing ``classical'' and millisecond radio pulsars,…
Early-type stars show a bimodal distribution of magnetic field strengths, with some showing very strong fields ($\gtrsim 1\,\mathrm{kG}$) and others very weak fields ($\lesssim 10\,\mathrm{G}$). Recently, we proposed that this reflects the…
The presence of magnetic fields at the surfaces of many massive stars has been suspected for decades, to explain the observed properties and activity of OB stars. However, very few genuine high-mass stars had been identified as magnetic…