Night-time science with large solar telescopes: the magnetic Sun through time

Abstract

Today the Sun has a regular magnetic cycle driven by a dynamo action. But how did this regular cycle develop? How do basic parameters such as rotation rate, age, and differential rotation affect the generation of magnetic fields? Zeeman Doppler imaging (ZDI) is a technique that uses high-resolution observations in circularly polarised light to map the surface magnetic topology on stars. Utilising the spectropolarimetric capabilities of future large solar telescopes it will be possible to study the evolution and morphology of the magnetic fields on a range of Sun-like stars from solar twins through to rapidly-rotating active young Suns and thus study the solar magnetic dynamo through time. In this article I discuss recent results from ZDI of Sun-like stars and how we can use night-time observations from future solar telescopes to solve unanswered questions about the origin and evolution of the Sun's magnetic dynamo.