A magnetic massive star has experienced a stellar merger

A. J. Frost; H. Sana; L. Mahy; G. Wade; J. Barron; J. B. Le Bouquin; A. Mérand; F. R.N. Schneider; T. Shenar; R. H. Barbá; D. M. Bowman; M. Fabry; A. Farhang; P. Marchant; N. I. Morrell; J. V. Smoker

doi:10.1126/science.adg7700

A magnetic massive star has experienced a stellar merger

A. J. Frost^*, H. Sana, L. Mahy, G. Wade, J. Barron, J. B. Le Bouquin, A. Mérand, F. R.N. Schneider, T. Shenar, R. H. Barbá, D. M. Bowman, M. Fabry, A. Farhang, P. Marchant, N. I. Morrell, J. V. Smoker

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Massive stars (those ≥8 solar masses at formation) have radiative envelopes that cannot sustain a dynamo, the mechanism that produces magnetic fields in lower-mass stars. Despite this, approximately 7% of massive stars have observed magnetic fields, the origin of which is debated. We used multi-epoch interferometric and spectroscopic observations to characterize HD 148937, a binary system of two massive stars. We found that only one star is magnetic and that it appears younger than its companion. The system properties and a surrounding bipolar nebula can be reproduced with a model in which two stars merged (in a previous triple system) to produce the magnetic massive star. Our results provide observational evidence that magnetic fields form in at least some massive stars through stellar mergers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	214-217
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	384
Issue number	6692
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg7700
State	Published - 12 Apr 2024

Funding

Funders	Funder number
TEL-STARS
SYMPHONY
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
ERC Horizon Europe funding guarantee
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme	772225, 945806
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft	EXC 2181/1-390900948
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	1286521N
Royal Society	URF\R1\231631
Not added	EP/Y031059/1

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10.1126/science.adg7700

Cite this

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title = "A magnetic massive star has experienced a stellar merger",

abstract = "Massive stars (those ≥8 solar masses at formation) have radiative envelopes that cannot sustain a dynamo, the mechanism that produces magnetic fields in lower-mass stars. Despite this, approximately 7% of massive stars have observed magnetic fields, the origin of which is debated. We used multi-epoch interferometric and spectroscopic observations to characterize HD 148937, a binary system of two massive stars. We found that only one star is magnetic and that it appears younger than its companion. The system properties and a surrounding bipolar nebula can be reproduced with a model in which two stars merged (in a previous triple system) to produce the magnetic massive star. Our results provide observational evidence that magnetic fields form in at least some massive stars through stellar mergers.",

author = "Frost, {A. J.} and H. Sana and L. Mahy and G. Wade and J. Barron and {Le Bouquin}, {J. B.} and A. M{\'e}rand and Schneider, {F. R.N.} and T. Shenar and Barb{\'a}, {R. H.} and Bowman, {D. M.} and M. Fabry and A. Farhang and P. Marchant and Morrell, {N. I.} and Smoker, {J. V.}",

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doi = "10.1126/science.adg7700",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A magnetic massive star has experienced a stellar merger

AU - Frost, A. J.

AU - Sana, H.

AU - Mahy, L.

AU - Wade, G.

AU - Barron, J.

AU - Le Bouquin, J. B.

AU - Mérand, A.

AU - Schneider, F. R.N.

AU - Shenar, T.

AU - Barbá, R. H.

AU - Bowman, D. M.

AU - Fabry, M.

AU - Farhang, A.

AU - Marchant, P.

AU - Morrell, N. I.

AU - Smoker, J. V.

PY - 2024/4/12

Y1 - 2024/4/12

N2 - Massive stars (those ≥8 solar masses at formation) have radiative envelopes that cannot sustain a dynamo, the mechanism that produces magnetic fields in lower-mass stars. Despite this, approximately 7% of massive stars have observed magnetic fields, the origin of which is debated. We used multi-epoch interferometric and spectroscopic observations to characterize HD 148937, a binary system of two massive stars. We found that only one star is magnetic and that it appears younger than its companion. The system properties and a surrounding bipolar nebula can be reproduced with a model in which two stars merged (in a previous triple system) to produce the magnetic massive star. Our results provide observational evidence that magnetic fields form in at least some massive stars through stellar mergers.

AB - Massive stars (those ≥8 solar masses at formation) have radiative envelopes that cannot sustain a dynamo, the mechanism that produces magnetic fields in lower-mass stars. Despite this, approximately 7% of massive stars have observed magnetic fields, the origin of which is debated. We used multi-epoch interferometric and spectroscopic observations to characterize HD 148937, a binary system of two massive stars. We found that only one star is magnetic and that it appears younger than its companion. The system properties and a surrounding bipolar nebula can be reproduced with a model in which two stars merged (in a previous triple system) to produce the magnetic massive star. Our results provide observational evidence that magnetic fields form in at least some massive stars through stellar mergers.

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VL - 384

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EP - 217

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6692

ER -

A magnetic massive star has experienced a stellar merger

Abstract

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