Decoding the Evolution of Young Stars: A Look at Magnetic Fields

Poster presented at the 2017 Georgia Regional Astronomy Meeting at the University of Georgia (Athens, GA, USA).

Abstract
Magnetic fields are hypothesized to affect the fundamental properties of young stars by increasing their size and cooling their surface temperature, as compared to stars without magnetic fields, at a given age. However, observational evidence supporting this hypothesis is scarce and is largely based on comparison of stellar evolution models that include effects from magnetic fields with a few select young stellar systems. Therefore, to expand on current knowledge, we present initial results from an effort to produce a large grid of magnetic stellar evolution models suitable for modeling young stellar systems of any age or metallicity. Once completed, the model grid will permit more rigorous tests of the hypothesis that magnetic fields affect the physical properties of young stars.