2026ApJ..1000..175C


Query : 2026ApJ..1000..175C

2026ApJ..1000..175C - Astrophys. J., 1000, 175 (2026/April-1)

Spectropolarimetric Constraints on the Maunder Minimum Analog HD 166620: Evidence for Weakened Magnetic Braking.

CHITI F., VAN SADERS J.L., KOCHUKHOV O. and METCALFE T.S.

Abstract (from CDS):

We present the first spectropolarimetric time-series analysis of the Maunder Minimum analog HD 166620, using 12 nights of data from CFHT/SPIRou and a single epoch from CFHT/ESPaDOnS. While individual Stokes V profiles exhibit no significant polarization signatures, we leverage the rotational coverage of the SPIRou dataset to compute a grand average LSD profile. Forward modeling of the cumulative Stokes V signal, assuming a purely axisymmetric dipole, yields a best-fit dipole field strength of ${B}_{{\rm{dip}}}=1.1{0}_{-0.90}^{+0.95}$ G (3σ). This field strength matches simulations of the solar dipole during the Maunder Minimum phase. Our results are consistent with independent constraints on the dipole field strength from an LBT/PEPSI snapshot and exclude the presence of strong nonaxisymmetric fields potentially missed by this single-epoch observation. These findings provide direct empirical evidence that the transition to weakened magnetic braking involves a weakening of the large-scale magnetic field and suggest that HD 166620 represents a state comparable to the Sun near the peak activity of a grand minimum.

Abstract Copyright: © 2026. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.

Journal keyword(s): Stellar evolution - Stellar rotation - Stellar magnetic fields - Spectropolarimetry - Maunder minimum

Simbad objects: 2

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Number of rows : 2
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA
ICRS (J2000)
DEC
Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2026
#notes
1 * tau Cet PM* 01 44 04.0831371922 -15 56 14.927607677 4.43 4.22 3.50 2.88 2.41 G8V 1354 1
2 HD 166620 PM* 18 09 37.4162111401 +38 27 27.998016381 7.86 7.27 6.40 5.63 5.14 K2V 481 0

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