What controls the large-scale magnetic fields of M dwarfs?. Issue Volume 9:Issue S302(2013) (7th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gastine, T.; Morin, J.; Duarte, L.; Reiners, A.; Christensen, U.; Wicht, J.
• Editors: Petit, Pascal; Jardine, Moira; Spruit, Hendrik C.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 9:Issue S302(2013)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2014-08-07
• Subjects: MHD, -- stars: magnetic field, -- stars: low-mass, -- turbulence; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921314001987
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: Observations of active M dwarfs show a broad variety of large-scale magnetic fields encompassing dipole-dominated and multipolar geometries. We detail the analogy between some anelastic dynamo simulations and spectropolarimetric observations of 23 M stars. In numerical models, the relative contribution of inertia and Coriolis force –estimated by the so-called local Rossby number– is known to have a strong impact on the magnetic field geometry. We discuss the relevance of this parameter in setting the large-scale magnetic field of M dwarfs.