GHz-Frequency Radio Surveys: The Premier Tool to Study Magnetic Activity at the Bottom of the Main Sequence

Ultracool dwarfs (UCDs) span the stellar and substellar regimes. Perhaps some of the most surprising discoveries among this class of objects are that they host strong, kG-strength magnetic fields and are powerful emitters of radio flares, despite their exoplanet-like effective temperatures and neutral atmospheres. However, many unanswered questions remain regarding their magnetic activity, including what are the characteristics of their magnetic dynamos, what is the nature of the electrodynamic engine that triggers magnetic reconnection to accelerate radio-emitting electrons, and what is the origin of the emitting plasma. Although UCD magnetic activity has been observed at radio, Hα, and X-ray wavelengths, UCD radio emissions alone can directly probe the magnetic field strengths and plasma environments of these objects. We present key results of radio surveys of UCD magnetic activity and explore the future prospects for addressing these lingering unanswered questions.