Stable magnetic equilibria and their evolution in the upper main sequence, white dwarfs, and neutron stars

Understand

[abbreviated] Long-lived, large-scale magnetic field configurations exist in upper main sequence, white dwarf, and neutron stars.

• Externally, these fields have a strong dipolar component, while their internal structure and evolution are uncertain, but highly relevant for several problems in stellar and high-energy astrophysics.
• We discuss the main properties expected for the stable magnetic configurations in these stars from physical arguments, and how these properties may determine the modes of decay of these configurations.
• Stable magneto-hydrostatic equilibria are likely to exist in stars whenever the matter in their interior is stably stratified (not barotropic).