765 research outputs found
Stellar chromospheres
Developments in the understanding and use of chromospheric diagnostics are discussed with emphasis on the following aspects: (1) trends emerging from semiempirical models of single stars; (2) the validity of claims that theoretical models of chromospheres are becoming realistic; (3) the correlation between the widths of Ca 2 H and K line emission cores and stellar absolute luminosity extending over 15 magnitudes (Wilson-Bappu relation); and (4) the existence of systematic flow patterns in stellar chromospheres
Definition and empirical structure of the range of stellar chromospheres-coronae across the H-R diagram: Cool stars
Major advances in our understanding of non-radiative heating and other activity in stars cooler than T sub eff = 10,000K has occured in the last few years. This observational evidence is reviewed and the trends that are now becoming apparent are discussed. The evidence for non-radiatively heated outer atmospheric layers (chromospheres, transition regions, and coronae) in dwarf stars cooler than spectral type A7, in F and G giants, pre-main sequence stars, and close bindary systems is unambiguous, as is the evidence for chromospheres in the K and M giants and supergiants. The existence of non-radiative heating in the outer layers of the A stars remains undetermined despite repeated searches at all wavelengths. Two important trends in the data are the decrease in plasma emission measure with age on the main sequence and decreasing rotational velocity. Variability and atmospheric inhomogeneity are commonly seen, and there is considerable evidence that magnetic fields define the geometry and control the energy balance in the outer atmospheric layers. In addition, the microwave observations imply that non-thermal electrons are confined in coronal magnetic flux tubes in at least the cool dwarfs and RS CVn systems. The chromospheres in the K and M giants and supergiants are geometrically extended, as are the coronae in the RS CVn systems and probably also in other stars
Coronae of nondegenerate single and binary stars: A survey of our present understanding and problems ripe for solution
Information about the coronae of stars in different portions of the HR diagram, and how the characteristics of such coronae compare with what is known about the solar corona are reviewed. For each type of star, some unanswered questions and the generic type of X-ray instrument required to answer these questions are listed. The survey points out the critical need for a sensitive X-ray instrument with both moderate spectra resolution and imaging capability that can monitor selected targets for long periods of time. There is also a need for high spectral resolution, provided sensitivities can be improved greatly over Einstein, and near simultaneous ultraviolet spectroscopy
The structure, energy balance, and winds of cool stars
The phenomena associated with magnetic fields in the Sun are summarized and it is shown that similar phenomena occur in cool stars. High dispersion spectra are providing unique information concerning densities, atmospheric extension, and emission line widths. A recent unanticipated discovery is that the transition lines are redshifted (an antiwind) in beta Dra (G2 Ib) and perhaps other stars. This is interpreted as indicating downflows in closed magnetic flux tubes as are seen in the solar flux tubes above sunspots. The G and K giants and supergiants are classified as active stars, quiet stars, or hybrid stars depending on whether their atmospheres are dominated by closed magnetic flux tubes, open field geometries, or a predominately open geometry with a few closed flux tubes embedded
IUE spectra of F and late A stars
The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectra of alpha CMi (F5 IV-V), beta Cas (F2 IV), alpha Car (F0 Ib), and gamma Boo (A7 III) in the context of the question as to whether chromospheres disappear in the early F late A portions of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Both alpha CMi (Procyon) and beta Cas show bright emission line spectra indicative of chromospheres and transition regions, but neither alpha Car (Canopus) nor gamma Boo show any evidence of emission in their SWP spectra or at the Mg II lines, despite very deep exposures. Alpha CMi has emission line fluxes roughly 6 times those of the quiet Sun, but the rapidly rotating delta Scuti type variable beta Cas has surface fluxes 10 to 50 times those of the quiet Sun. Upper limits on emission line fluxes for alpha Car are 4 to 20 and for gamma Boo 15 to 80 times the quiet Sun. It is concluded that the apparent absence of emission lines in the spectra of alpha Car and gamma Boo should not be interpreted as due to the absence of nonradiatively heated outer atmospheres in stars hotter than spectral type F0, but rather to the inability to see emission lines with IUE against a background of scattered light and a bright photospheric absorption line spectrum either in low or high dispersion
Reverse engineering a spectrum: using fluorescent spectra of molecular hydrogen to recreate the missing Lyman-α line of pre-main sequence stars
The hydrogen Lyman-α (Lyα) line, a major source of ionization of metals in the circumstellar disks of pre-main sequence (PMS) stars, is usually not observed due to absorption by interstellar and circumstellar hydrogen. We have developed a technique to reconstruct the intrinsic Lyα line using the observed emission in the H2 B-X lines that are fluoresced by Lyα. We describe this technique and the subsequent analysis of the ultraviolet (UV) spectra of the TW Hya, RU Lupi and other PMS stars. We find that the reconstructed Lyα lines are indeed far brighter than any other feature in the UV spectra of these stars and therefore play an important role in the ionization and heating of the outer layers of circumstellar disks
Effect of UV Radiation on the Spectral Fingerprints of Earth-like Planets Orbiting M dwarfs
We model the atmospheres and spectra of Earth-like planets orbiting the
entire grid of M dwarfs for active and inactive stellar models with =
2300K to = 3800K and for six observed MUSCLES M dwarfs with UV
radiation data. We set the Earth-like planets at the 1AU equivalent distance
and show spectra from the VIS to IR (0.4m - 20m) to compare
detectability of features in different wavelength ranges with JWST and other
future ground- and spaced-based missions to characterize exo-Earths. We focus
on the effect of UV activity levels on detectable atmospheric features that
indicate habitability on Earth, namely: HO, O, CH, NO and
CHCl.
To observe signatures of life - O/O in combination with reducing
species like CH, we find that early and active M dwarfs are the best
targets of the M star grid for future telescopes. The O spectral feature at
0.76m is increasingly difficult to detect in reflected light of later M
dwarfs due to low stellar flux in that wavelength region. NO, another
biosignature detectable in the IR, builds up to observable concentrations in
our planetary models around M dwarfs with low UV flux. CHCl could become
detectable, depending on the depth of the overlapping NO feature.
We present a spectral database of Earth-like planets around cool stars for
directly imaged planets as a framework for interpreting future lightcurves,
direct imaging, and secondary eclipse measurements of the atmospheres of
terrestrial planets in the HZ to design and assess future telescope
capabilities.Comment: in press, ApJ (submitted August 18, 2014), 16 pages, 12 figure
Models of the lunar surface including temperature-dependent thermal properties Scientific report no. 8
Lunar surface models including temperature dependent thermal propertie
Lyman alpha initiated winds in late-type stars
The IUE survey of late-type stars revealed a sharp division in the HR diagram between stars with solar type spectra (chromosphere and transition region lines) and those with non-solar type spectra (only chromosphere lines). Models of both hot coronae and cool wind flows were calculated using stellar model chromospheres as starting points for stellar wind calculations in order to investigate the possibility of having a supersonic transition locus in the HR diagram dividing hot coronae from cool winds. From these models, it is concluded that the Lyman alpha flux may play an important role in determining the location of a stellar wind critical point. The interaction of Lyman alpha radiation pressure with Alfven waves in producing strong, low temperature stellar winds in the star Arcturus is examined
IUE spectra of a flare in HR 5110: A flaring RS CVn or Algol system?
Ultraviolet spectra of the RS CVn type binary system HR 5110 were obtained with IUE on May 31, 1979 during a period of intense radio flaring of this star. High temperature transition region lines are present, but are not enhanced above observed quiescent strengths. The similarities of HR 5110 to the Algol system, As Eri, suggest that the 1979 May to June flare may involve mass exchange rather than annihilation of coronal magnetic fields
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