1,357 research outputs found
X-raying the coronae of HD~155555
We present an analysis of the high-resolution Chandra observation of the
multiple system, HD 155555 (an RS CVn type binary system, HD 155555 AB, and its
spatially resolved low-mass companion HD 155555 C). This is an intriguing
system which shows properties of both an active pre-main sequence star and a
synchronised (main sequence) binary. We obtain the emission measure
distribution, temperature structures, plasma densities, and abundances of this
system and compare them with the coronal properties of other young/active
stars. HD 155555 AB and HD 155555 C produce copious X-ray emission with log Lx
of 30.54 and 29.30, respectively, in the 0.3-6.0 keV energy band. The light
curves of individual stars show variability on timescales of few minutes to
hours. We analyse the dispersed spectra and reconstruct the emission measure
distribution using spectral line analysis. The resulting elemental abundances
exhibit inverse first ionisation potential effect in both cases. An analysis of
He-like triplets yields a range of coronal electron densities ~10^10-10^13
cm-3. Since HD 155555 AB is classified both as an RS CVn and a PMS star, we
compare our results with those of other slightly older active main-sequence
stars and T Tauri stars, which indicates that the coronal properties of HD
155555 AB closely resemble that of an older RS CVn binary rather than a younger
PMS star. Our results also suggests that the properties of HD 155555 C is very
similar to those of other active M dwarfs.Comment: 17 pages, 23 figues, Accepted in Ap
RHESSI Observations of the Solar Flare Iron-line Feature at 6.7 keV
Analysis of RHESSI 3--10 keV spectra for 27 solar flares is reported. This
energy range includes thermal free--free and free--bound continuum and two line
features, at 6.7keV and 8keV, principally due to highly ionized iron (Fe). We
used the continuum and the flux in the so-called Fe-line feature at 6.7keV to
derive the electron temperature T_e, the emission measure, and the Fe-line
equivalent width as functions of time in each flare. The Fe/H abundance ratio
in each flare is derived from the Fe-line equivalent width as a function of
T_e. To minimize instrumental problems with high count rates and effects
associated with multi-temperature and nonthermal spectral components, spectra
are presented mostly during the flare decay phase, when the emission measure
and temperature were smoothly varying. We found flare Fe/H abundance ratios
that are consistent with the coronal abundance of Fe (i.e. 4 times the
photospheric abundance) to within 20% for at least 17 of the 27 flares; for 7
flares, the Fe/H abundance ratio is possibly higher by up to a factor of 2. We
find evidence that the Fe XXV ion fractions are less than the theoretically
predicted values by up to 60% at T_e=25 MK appear to be displaced from the most
recent theoretical values by between 1 and 3 MK.Comment: To be published, Ap
Deposing the Cool Corona of KPD 0005+5106
The ROSAT PSPC pulse height spectrum of the peculiar He-rich hot white dwarf
KPD 0005+5106 provided a great surprise when first analysed by Fleming, Werner
& Barstow (1993). It defied the best non-LTE modelling attempts in terms of
photospheric emission from He-dominated atmospheres including C, N and O and
was instead interpreted as the first evidence for a coronal plasma around a
white dwarf. We show here that a recent high resolution Chandra LETGS spectrum
has more structure than expected from a thermal bremsstrahlung continuum and
lacks the narrow lines of H-like and He-like C expected from a coronal plasma.
Moreover, a coronal model requires a total luminosity more than two orders of
magnitude larger than that of the star itself. Instead, the observed 20-80 AA
flux is consistent with photospheric models containing trace amounts of heavier
elements such as Fe. The soft X-ray flux is highly sensitive to the adopted
metal abundance and provides a metal abundance diagnostic. The weak X-ray
emission at 1 keV announced by O'Dwyer et al (2003) instead cannot arise from
the photosphere and requires alternative explanations. We echo earlier
speculation that such emission arises in a shocked wind. Despite the presence
of UV-optical O VIII lines from transitions between levels n=7-10, no X-ray O
VIII Ly alpha flux is detected. We show that O VIII Lyman photons can be
trapped by resonant scattering within the emitting plasma and destroyed by
photoelectric absorption.Comment: 15 Pages, 4 figures. Accepted for the Astrophysical Journa
Chandra High Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy of AM Her
We present the results of high resolution spectroscopy of the prototype polar
AM Herculis observed with Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating. The X-ray
spectrum contains hydrogen-like and helium-like lines of Fe, S, Si, Mg, Ne and
O with several Fe L-shell emission lines. The forbidden lines in the spectrum
are generally weak whereas the hydrogen-like lines are stronger suggesting that
emission from a multi-temperature, collisionally ionized plasma dominates. The
helium-like line flux ratios yield a plasma temperature of 2 MK and a plasma
density 1 - 9 x10^12 cm^-3, whereas the line flux ratio of Fe XXVI to Fe XXV
gives an ionization temperature of 12.4 +1.1 -1.4 keV. We present the
differential emission measure distribution of AM Her whose shape is consistent
with the volume emission measure obtained by multi-temperature APEC model. The
multi-temperature plasma model fit to the average X-ray spectrum indicates the
mass of the white dwarf to be ~1.15 M_sun. From phase resolved spectroscopy, we
find the line centers of Mg XII, S XVI, resonance line of Fe XXV, and Fe XXVI
emission modulated by a few hundred to 1000 km/s from the theoretically
expected values indicating bulk motion of ionized matter in the accretion
column of AM Her. The observed velocities of Fe XXVI ions are close to the
expected shock velocity for a 0.6 M_sun white dwarf. The observed velocity
modulation is consistent with that expected from a single pole accreting binary
system.Comment: 6 figures, AASTEX style, accepted for publication in Ap
Interactions of the magnetospheres of stars and close-in giant planets
Since the first discovery of an extrasolar planetary system more than a
decade ago, hundreds more have been discovered. Surprisingly, many of these
systems harbor Jupiter-class gas giants located close to the central star, at
distances of 0.1 AU or less. Observations of chromospheric 'hot spots' that
rotate in phase with the planetary orbit, and elevated stellar X-ray
luminosities,suggest that these close-in planets significantly affect the
structure of the outer atmosphere of the star through interactions between the
stellar magnetic field and the planetary magnetosphere. Here we carry out the
first detailed three-dimensional MagnetoHydroHynamics (MHD) simulation
containing the two magnetic bodies and explore the consequences of such
interactions on the steady-state coronal structure. The simulations reproduce
the observable features of 1) increase in the total X-ray luminosity, 2)
appearance of coronal hot spots, and 3) phase shift of these spots with respect
to the direction of the planet. The proximate cause of these is an increase in
the density of coronal plasma in the direction of the planet, which prevents
the corona from expanding and leaking away this plasma via a stellar wind. The
simulations produce significant low temperature heating. By including dynamical
effects, such as the planetary orbital motion, the simulation should better
reproduce the observed coronal heating
On X-ray Optical Depth in the Coronae of Active Stars
We have investigated the optical thickness of the coronal plasma through the
analysis of high-resolution X-ray spectra of a large sample of active stars
observed with the High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer on Chandra. In
particular, we probed for the presence of significant resonant scattering in
the strong Lyman series lines arising from hydrogen-like oxygen and neon ions.
The active RS CVn-type binaries II Peg and IM Peg and the single M dwarf EV Lac
show significant optical depth. For these active coronae, the Lya/Lyb ratios
are significantly depleted as compared with theoretical predictions and with
the same ratios observed in similar active stars. Interpreting these decrements
in terms of resonance scattering of line photons out of the line-of-sight, we
are able to derive an estimate for the typical size of coronal structures, and
from these we also derive estimates of coronal filling factors. For all three
sources we find that the both the photon path length as a fraction of the
stellar radius, and the implied surface filling factors are very small and
amount to a few percent at most. The measured Lya/Lyb ratios are in good
agreement with APED theoretical predictions, thus indicating negligible optical
depth, for the other sources in our sample. We discuss the implications for
coronal structuring and heating flux requirements. For the stellar sample as a
whole, the data suggest increasing quenching of Lya relative to Lyb as function
of both L_x/L_bol and the density-sensitive MgXI forbidden to intercombination
line ratio, as might generally be expected.Comment: Accepted for publication on the Astrophysical Journa
Summary of the 13th IACHEC Meeting
We summarize the outcome of the 13th meeting of the International
Astronomical Consortium for High Energy Calibration (IACHEC), held at Tenuta
dei Ciclamini (Avigliano Umbro, Italy) in April 2018. Fifty-one scientists
directly involved in the calibration of operational and future high-energy
missions gathered during 3.5 days to discuss the current status of the X-ray
payload inter-calibration and possible approaches to improve it. This summary
consists of reports from the various working groups with topics ranging from
the identification and characterization of standard calibration sources,
multi-observatory cross-calibration campaigns, appropriate and new statistical
techniques, calibration of instruments and characterization of background, and
communication and preservation of knowledge and results for the benefit of the
astronomical community.Comment: 12 page
FK Comae Berenices, King of Spin: The COCOA-PUFS Project
COCOA-PUFS is an energy-diverse, time-domain study of the ultra-fast
spinning, heavily spotted, yellow giant FK Com (HD117555; G4 III). This single
star is thought to be a recent binary merger, and is exceptionally active by
measure of its intense ultraviolet and X-ray emissions, and proclivity to
flare. COCOA-PUFS was carried out with Hubble Space Telescope in the UV
(120-300 nm), using mainly its high-performance Cosmic Origins Spectrograph,
but also high-precision Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph; Chandra X-ray
Observatory in the soft X-rays (0.5-10 keV), utilizing its High-Energy
Transmission Grating Spectrometer; together with supporting photometry and
spectropolarimetry in the visible from the ground. This is an introductory
report on the project.
FK Com displayed variability on a wide range of time scales, over all
wavelengths, during the week-long main campaign, including a large X-ray flare;
"super-rotational broadening" of the far-ultraviolet "hot-lines" (e.g., Si IV
139 nm (T~80,000 K) together with chromospheric Mg II 280 nm and C II 133 nm
(10,000-30,000 K); large Doppler swings suggestive of bright regions
alternately on advancing and retreating limbs of the star; and substantial
redshifts of the epoch-average emission profiles. These behaviors paint a
picture of a highly extended, dynamic, hot (10 MK) coronal magnetosphere around
the star, threaded by cooler structures perhaps analogous to solar prominences,
and replenished continually by surface activity and flares. Suppression of
angular momentum loss by the confining magnetosphere could temporarily postpone
the inevitable stellar spindown, thereby lengthening this highly volatile stage
of coronal evolution.Comment: to be published in ApJ
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