Detection of a weak surface magnetic field on Sirius A (P. Petit et al.)

Vol. 532
In section 1. Letters to the Editor

Detection of a weak surface magnetic field on Sirius A: are all tepid stars magnetic?

A and late-B type stars have traditionally been divided into magnetic and non-magnetic stars, with the former having kilo-Gauss strength magnetic fields. The prototypical nonmagnetic Vega has recently been shown, thanks to improved instrumental sensitivity, to actually hold a magnetic field, albeit of only Gauss strength. The authors demonstrate here that Sirius similarly contains a Gauss-level field, suggesting that a significant number of A and late-B stars may have low-level magnetic fields.