A kinematic mechanism for the oblique rotator model of magnetic stars

The feasibility of an essentially kinematic mechanism for producing the large inclination of magnetic and rotation axes in stars displaying strong magnetic fields is investigated. In a rotating magnetic star with suitable parameters the circulation through much of the star is essentially inexorable and approximates the Eddington-Sweet circulation. This circulation interacts with a magnetic field whose axis of symmetry is initially inclined at an arbitrary angle to the rotation axis, and advects it into a configuration whose surface field is approximately dipolar with axis asymptotically perpendicular to the rotation axis. The model studied is a crude two-dimensional approximation to reality, but it appears the mechanism is plausible in that it may be able to produce oblique rotators with large inclinations on a timescale comparable to or shorter than the main sequence lifetime. (author)