Properties of a volume-limited sample of magnetic Ap/Bp stars

This paper describes a study to deduce fundamental parameters and magnetic eld characteristics for all magnetic Ap/Bp stars within a 100 parsec heliocentric radius volume. This study has allowed for the rst time the determi- nation of an eectiv ely unbiased magnetic eld distribution of a sample of inter- mediate mass stars. From published catalogues and other literature sources, we have identied 57 bona de magnetic A and B stars in the volume, corresponding to 1.7% of all intermediate mass stars within 100 parsec of the Sun. The masses of Ap stars range from 1.5 to 6 M , with the peak of the mass incidence dis- tribution between 3.3 and 3.6 M. Observations of 30 of the Ap/Bp stars were obtained using the MuSiCoS spectropolarimeter at the Telescope Bernard Lyot at Pic du Midi Observatory. These observations will be used to rene periods, and determine magnetic eld strength and geometry.