2025 Project Description

Stellar Dynamo Secrets: A Journey into Magnetic Fields of Young Suns

Supervisors

Christian Flores
Find out more about supervisors on ASIAA website

Task Description and Goals

Magnetic fields are one of the basic forces shaping the universe. They thread through galaxies, the space between stars, and the stars themselves, influencing both how stars form and how they evolve. However, we still don’t fully understand the process by which stars generate and sustain strong magnetic fields, especially in their early stages. This project will investigate the physical conditions under which young stars can support powerful dynamo-driven magnetic fields, and how a star’s internal structure can help or hinder this process.

We will combine spectroscopic observations of several young stars with radiative transfer models to measure each star’s magnetic field strength and compare it with key internal properties—such as the depth and intensity of convection. By doing so, the student will address questions like how internal convection is tied to magnetic field generation, and why some types of stars show strong magnetic fields while others do not.

Through this project, the student will gain a deeper understanding of stellar magnetism, internal stellar structure, and early stellar evolution. They will develop practical skills in near-infrared spectroscopy, radiative transfer modeling, and statistical analysis. This work not only refines our knowledge of how magnetic fields shape young stars but also helps us understand the broader dynamo processes at work in stars across the universe, including our own Sun.

Required Background

1. Strong programming skills in Python are required, including experience with scientific computing libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib.
2. Familiarity with data analysis and simulations is preferred.
3. Basic or advanced knowledge of astrophysics is helpful but not mandatory.