Magnetic intensification of spectral lines

Author(s)
Martin Stift, Franco Leone
Abstract

We present an in-depth investigation of the increase in equivalent width of saturated lines under the influence of strong magnetic fields, aptly called "magnetic intensification". Assuming 20 different Zeeman patterns (with the number of components ranging from 3 to 45) for a fictitious F II line at 4500A° in a 10000K, log g = 4.0 Kurucz atmosphere, we calculate equivalent widths as a function of magnetic field strength, field angle and line strength (abundance). The increase over the zero field equivalent width is found to always fall below the n/2 relation suggested by Babcock (1949), where n is the number of Zeeman components. After a discussion of the behaviour of various Zeeman patterns we turn to the influence of anomalous dispersion on magnetic intensification. Changes in line blanketing due to magnetic desaturation appear to be of negligible size. Finally we show that magnetic intensification leads to apparent enhanced abundances and to virtual abundance variations in magnetic stars with dipolar surface magnetic field configurations.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Università degli Studi di Catania
Journal
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume
398
Pages
411-421
No. of pages
11
ISSN
0004-6361
Publication date
2003
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/4fc2568b-3eee-4c07-b5d7-4e005f2c1898