UVMag: stellar formation, evolution, structure and environment with space UV and visible spectropolarimetry

C. Neiner, D. Baade, A. Fullerton, C. Gry, G. Hussain, A. Lèbre, J. Morin, P. Petit, J. O. Sundqvist, A. ud-Doula, A. A. Vidotto, G. A. Wade

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Important insights into the formation, structure, evolution and environment of all types of stars can be obtained through the measurement of their winds and possible magnetospheres. However, this has hardly been done up to now mainly because of the lack of UV instrumentation available for long periods of time. To reach this aim, we have designed UVMag, an M-size space mission equipped with a high-resolution spectropolarimeter working in the UV and visible spectral range. The UV domain is crucial in stellar physics as it is very rich in atomic and molecular lines and contains most of the flux of hot stars. Moreover, covering the UV and visible spectral domains at the same time will allow us to study the star and its environment simultaneously. Adding polarimetric power to the spectrograph will multiply tenfold the capabilities of extracting information on stellar magnetospheres, winds, disks, and magnetic fields. Examples of science objectives that can be reached with UVMag are presented for pre-main sequence, main sequence and evolved stars. They will cast new light onto stellar physics by addressing many exciting and important questions. UVMag is currently undergoing a Research & Technology study and will be proposed at the forthcoming ESA call for M-size missions. This spectropolarimeter could also be installed on a large UV and visible observatory (e.g. NASA’s LUVOIR project) within a suite of instruments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)215-227
Number of pages13
JournalAstrophysics and Space Science
Volume354
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 23 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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