Surface magnetic fields on two accreting T Tauri stars: CV Cha and CR Cha

Hussain, G. A. J. and Collier Cameron, A. and Jardine, M. M. and Dunstone, N. and Ramirez Velez, J. and Stempels, H. C. and Donati, J.-F. and Semel, M. and Aulanier, G. and Harries, T. and Bouvier, J. and Dougados, C. and Ferreira, J. and Carter, B. D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0035-8769 and Lawson, W. A. (2009) Surface magnetic fields on two accreting T Tauri stars: CV Cha and CR Cha. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 398 (1). pp. 189-200. ISSN 0035-8711

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Abstract

We have produced brightness and magnetic field maps of the surfaces of CV Cha and CR Cha: two actively accreting G- and K-type T Tauri stars in the Chamaeleon I star-forming cloud with ages of 3–5 Myr. Our magnetic field maps show evidence for strong, complex multipolar fields similar to those obtained for young rapidly rotating main-sequence stars. Brightness maps indicate the presence of dark polar caps and low-latitude spots – these brightness maps are very similar to those obtained for other pre-main-sequence and rapidly rotating main-sequence stars.

Only two other classical T Tauri stars have been studied using similar techniques so far: V2129 Oph and BP Tau. CV Cha and CR Cha show magnetic field patterns that are significantly more complex than those recovered for BP Tau, a fully convective T Tauri star.

We discuss possible reasons for this difference and suggest that the complexity of the stellar magnetic field is related to the convection zone; with more complex fields being found in T Tauri stars with radiative cores (V2129 Oph, CV Cha and CR Cha). However, it is clearly necessary to conduct magnetic field studies of T Tauri star systems, exploring a wide range of stellar parameters in order to establish how they affect magnetic field generation, and thus how these magnetic fields are likely to affect the evolution of T Tauri star systems as they approach the main sequence.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Pre-print template-style version deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Biological and Physical Sciences (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Biological and Physical Sciences (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2010 05:59
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2013 01:34
Uncontrolled Keywords:	stars; formation; imaging; individual; CR Cha; CV Cha; magnetic fields; open clusters and associations; Chamaeleon I
Fields of Research (2008):	02 Physical Sciences > 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences > 020110 Stellar Astronomy and Planetary Systems 04 Earth Sciences > 0401 Atmospheric Sciences > 040108 Tropospheric and Stratospheric Physics 02 Physical Sciences > 0204 Condensed Matter Physics > 020402 Condensed Matter Imaging 09 Engineering > 0909 Geomatic Engineering > 090905 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Socio-Economic Objectives (2008):	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970102 Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences
Identification Number or DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.14881.x
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/5765

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