354 research outputs found
High-amplitude, long-term X-ray variability in the solar-type star HD 81809: the beginning of an X-ray activity cycle?
We present the initial results from our XMM program aimed at searching for
X-ray activity cycles in solar-type stars. HD 81809 is a G2-type star (somewhat
more evolved than the Sun, and with a less massive companion) with a pronounced
8.2 yr chromospheric cycle, as evident from from the Mt. Wilson program data.
We present here the results from the initial 2.5 years of XMM observations,
showing that large amplitude (a factor of approx. 10) modulation is present in
the X-ray luminosity, with a clearly defined maximum in mid 2002 and a steady
decrease since then. The maximum of the chromospheric cycle took place in 2001;
if the observed X-ray variability is the initial part of an X-ray cycle, this
could imply a phase shift between chromospheric and coronal activity, although
the current descent into chromospheric cycle minimum is well reflected into the
star's X-ray luminosity. The observations presented here provide clear evidence
for the presence of large amplitude X-ray variability coherent with the
activity cycle in the chromosphere in a star other than the Sun.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Climate hypersensitivity to solar forcing?
International audienceWe compare the equilibrium climate responses of a quasi-dynamical energy balance model to radiative forcing by equivalent changes in CO2, solar total irradiance (Stot) and solar UV (SUV). The response is largest in the SUV case, in which the imposed UV radiative forcing is preferentially absorbed in the layer above 250 mb, in contrast to the weak response from global-columnar radiative loading by increases in CO2 or Stot. The hypersensitive response of the climate system to solar UV forcing is caused by strongly coupled feedback involving vertical static stability, tropical thick cirrus ice clouds and stratospheric ozone. This mechanism offers a plausible explanation of the apparent hypersensitivity of climate to solar forcing, as suggested by analyses of recent climatic records. The model hypersensitivity strongly depends on climate parameters, especially cloud radiative properties, but is effective for arguably realistic values of these parameters. The proposed solar forcing mechanism should be further confirmed using other models (e.g., general circulation models) that may better capture radiative and dynamical couplings of the troposphere and stratosphere
Magnetic cycles at different ages of stars
We study the different patterns of interannual magnetic variability in stars
on or near the lower main sequence, approximately solar-type (G-K dwarf) stars
in time series of 36 years from the Mount Wilson Observatory Ca\,{\sc ii}\,H\&K
survey. Our main aim is to search for correlations between cycles, activity
measures and ages. Time-frequency analysis has been used to discern and reveal
patterns and morphology of stellar activity cycles, including multiple and
changing cycles, in the datasets. Both the results from short-term Fourier
transform and its refinement using the Choi-Williams distribution, with better
frequency resolution, are presented in this study. Rotational periods of the
stars were derived using multi-frequency Fourier analysis.From the studied 29
stars we found at least one activity cycle on 28 of them. Twelve stars, with
longer rotational periods ( days) have simple, smooth cycles, and
the rest of the stars, with on-average much faster rotation (
days) show complex and sometimes vigorously changing, multiple cycles. The
cycles are longer and quite uniform in the first group ( years),
while are generally shorter and with greater variety in the second one
(). There is a clear age division between stars with smooth and
complex cycles that follows the known separation between the older and younger
stars at around 2 to 3~Gyr of age.Comment: Accepted to Astronomy and Astrophysic
Combined ultraviolet studies of astronomical sources
Topics addressed include: Cygnus Loop; P Cygni profiles in dwarf novae; YY Gem; nova shells; HZ Herculis; activity cycles in cluster giants; Alpha Ori; metal deficient giant stars; ultraviolet spectra of symbiotic stars detected by the Very Large Array; time variability in symbiotic stars; blue galaxies; and quasistellar objects with X-ray spectra
No planet for HD 166435
The G0V star HD166435 has been observed by the fiber-fed spectrograph ELODIE
as one of the targets in the large extra-solar planet survey that we are
conducting at the Observatory of Haute-Provence. We detected coherent,
low-amplitude, radial-velocity variations with a period of 3.7987days,
suggesting a possible close-in planetary companion. Subsequently, we initiated
a series of high-precision photometric observations to search for possible
planetary transits and an additional series of CaII H and K observations to
measure the level of surface magnetic activity and to look for possible
rotational modulation. Surprisingly, we found the star to be photometrically
variable and magnetically active. A detailed study of the phase stability of
the radial-velocity signal revealed that the radial-velocity variability
remains coherent only for durations of about 30days. Analysis of the time
variation of the spectroscopic line profiles using line bisectors revealed a
correlation between radial velocity and line-bisector orientation. All of these
observations, along with a one-quarter cycle phase shift between the
photometric and the radial-velocity variationss, are well explained by the
presence of dark photospheric spots on HD166435. We conclude that the
radial-velocity variations are not due to gravitational interaction with an
orbiting planet but, instead, originate from line-profile changes stemming from
star spots on the surface of the star. The quasi-coherence of the
radial-velocity signal over more than two years, which allowed a fair fit with
a binary model, makes the stability of this star unusual among other active
stars. It suggests a stable magnetic field orientation where spots are always
generated at about the same location on the surface of the star.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in A&
Multiple and changing cycles of active stars II. Results
We study the time variations of the cycles of 20 active stars based on
decades-long photometric or spectroscopic observations. A method of
time-frequency analysis, as discussed in a companion paper, is applied to the
data. Fifteen stars definitely show multiple cycles; the records of the rest
are too short to verify a timescale for a second cycle. The cycles typically
show systematic changes. For three stars, we found two cycles in each of them
that are not harmonics, and which vary in parallel, indicating that a common
physical mechanism arising from a dynamo construct. The positive relation
between the rotational and cycle periods is confirmed for the inhomogeneous set
of active stars. Stellar activity cycles are generally multiple and variable.Comment: Accepted to Astronomy and Astrophysic
Ages for illustrative field stars using gyrochronology: viability, limitations and errors
We here develop an improved way of using a rotating star as a clock, set it
using the Sun, and demonstrate that it keeps time well. This technique, called
gyrochronology, permits the derivation of ages for solar- and late-type main
sequence stars using only their rotation periods and colors. The technique is
clarified and developed here, and used to derive ages for illustrative groups
of nearby, late-type field stars with measured rotation periods. We first
demonstrate the reality of the interface sequence, the unifying feature of the
rotational observations of cluster and field stars that makes the technique
possible, and extends it beyond the proposal of Skumanich by specifying the
mass dependence of rotation for these stars. We delineate which stars it cannot
currently be used on. We then calibrate the age dependence using the Sun. The
errors are propagated to understand their dependence on color and period.
Representative age errors associated with the technique are estimated at ~15%
(plus possible systematic errors) for late-F, G, K, & early-M stars. Ages
derived via gyrochronology for the Mt. Wilson stars are shown to be in good
agreement with chromospheric ages for all but the bluest stars, and probably
superior. Gyro ages are then calculated for each of the active main sequence
field stars studied by Strassmeier and collaborators where other ages are not
available. These are shown to be mostly younger than 1Gyr, with a median age of
365Myr. The sample of single, late-type main sequence field stars assembled by
Pizzolato and collaborators is then assessed, and shown to have gyro ages
ranging from under 100Myr to several Gyr, and a median age of 1.2Gyr. Finally,
we demonstrate that the individual components of the three wide binaries
XiBooAB, 61CygAB, & AlphaCenAB yield substantially the same gyro ages.Comment: 58 pages, 18 color figures, accepted for publication in The
Astrophysical Journal; Age uncertainties slightly modified upon correcting an
algebraic error in Section
A Survey of Chromospheric Activity in the Solar-Type Stars in the Open Cluster M67
We present the results of a spectroscopic survey of the Ca II H & K core
strengths in a sample of 60 solar-type stars that are members of the solar-age
and solar-metallicity open cluster M67. We adopt the HK index, defined as the
summed H+K core strengths in 0.1 nm bandpasses centered on the H and K lines,
respectively, as a measure of the chromospheric activity that is present. We
compare the distribution of mean HK index values for the M67 solar-type stars
with the variation of this index as measured for the Sun during the
contemporary solar cycle. We find that the stellar distribution in our HK index
is broader than that for the solar cycle. Approximately 17% of the M67 sun-like
stars exhibit average HK indices that are less than solar minimum. About 7%-12%
are characterized by relatively high activity in excess of solar maximum values
while 72%-80% of the solar analogs exhibit Ca II H+K strengths within the range
of the modern solar cycle. The ranges given reflect uncertainties in the most
representative value of the maximum in the HK index to adopt for the solar
cycle variations observed during the period A.D. 1976--2004. Thus, ~ 20% - 30%
of our homogeneous sample of sun-like stars have mean chromospheric H+K
strengths that are outside the range of the contemporary solar cycle. Any
cycle-like variability that is present in the M67 solar-type stars appears to
be characterized by periods greater than ~ 6 years. Finally, we estimate a mean
chromospheric age for M67 in the range of 3.8--4.3 Gyr.Comment: Accepted in The Astrophysical Journa
The X-ray cycle in the solar-type star HD 81809
(abridged) Our long-term XMM-Newton program of long-term monitoring of a
solar-like star with a well-studied chromospheric cycle, HD 81809 aims to study
whether an X-ray cycle is present, along with studying its characteristics and
its relation to the chromospheric cycle. Regular observations of HD 81809 were
performed with XMM-Newton, spaced by 6 months from 2001 to 2007. We studied the
variations in the resulting coronal luminosity and temperature, and compared
them with the chromospheric CaII variations. We also modeled the observations
in terms of a mixture of active regions, using a methodology originally
developed to study the solar corona. Our observations show a well-defined cycle
with an amplitude exceeding 1 dex and an average luminosity approximately one
order of magnitude higher than in the Sun. The behavior of the corona of HD
81809 can be modeled well in terms of varying coverage of solar-like active
regions, with a larger coverage than for the Sun, showing it to be compatible
with a simple extension of the solar case.Comment: In press, Astronomy & Astrophysic
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