The Origins of Magnetic Dynamos in Young Suns

The Sun and similar main-sequence stars show evidence of magnetic dynamos and cycles that produce changing magnetic fields and activity levels. However, we know little about the evolutionary origins of the Sun's magnetic dynamo, despite its relevance to early solar system development. Our research therefore sets out to use the technique of Zeeman Doppler Imaging (ZDI) to empirically study the early magnetic histories of sun-like stars. Here I present the results of a small multi-epoch survey that provides evidence for global magnetic field changes in young sun-like stars suggesting the beginnings of magnetic cycles. A larger longterm study with 2-m+ class telescopes is now envisaged to reveal the origins of the cyclic magnetic dynamo of our Sun and similar stars, using a ZDI survey of a number of young Suns at regular intervals for around a decade.