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Active Stars (active + star)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Physics and Astronomy100%

Selected Abstracts

On the orbital period modulation of RS CVn binary systems

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 1 2005
Antonino F. Lanza
ABSTRACT The Applegate hypothesis proposed to explain the orbital period modulation of RS Canum Venaticorum (RS CVn) close binaries (Applegate 1992) is considered in the framework of a general model to treat the angular momentum exchanges within the convective envelope of a magnetically active star. This model assumes that the convection zone is strictly adiabatic and that the Taylor,Proudman balance holds, leading to an internal angular velocity constant over cylindrical surfaces co-axial with the rotation axis. It turns out that the angular velocity perturbations, whatever their origin, can be expressed in terms of the eigenfunctions of the equation of angular momentum conservation with stress-free boundary conditions. Moreover, a lower limit for the energy dissipation rate in a turbulent convection zone can be set, thanks to the extremal properties of the eigenfunctions. This approach allows to apply precise constraints on the amplitude and the radial profile of the angular velocity variations that are required to explain the observed orbital period changes in classical RS CVn binaries (i.e. with orbital period longer than 1,2 d and a subgiant secondary component). It is found that an angular velocity change as large as 10 per cent of the unperturbed angular velocity at the base of the stellar convection zone is needed. Such a large change is not compatible with the observations. Moreover, it would produce an energy dissipation rate much larger than the typical luminosities of the active components of RS CVn systems, except in the case that fast rotation and internal magnetic fields reduce the turbulent viscosity by at least 2 orders of magnitude with respect to the value given by the mixing-length theory. Therefore, the model proposed by Applegate should be rejected, at least in the case of classical RS CVn close binaries. Possible alternative models are briefly discussed, emphasizing the effects of intense magnetic fields (, 10 T) on the internal structure of magnetically active stars and the dynamics of close binary systems. [source]

Living with an active star

ASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS, Issue 3 2001
Andy Breen
Observations have shown that the Sun is far from being a stable, unchanging object. Rather, we live within the outer atmosphere of a variable star. Andy Breen presents a summary of a meeting that drew together new results from observations and computational modelling of the Sun, interplanetary space and the upper atmosphere of the Earth. [source]

On the orbital period modulation of RS CVn binary systems

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 1 2005
Antonino F. Lanza
ABSTRACT The Applegate hypothesis proposed to explain the orbital period modulation of RS Canum Venaticorum (RS CVn) close binaries (Applegate 1992) is considered in the framework of a general model to treat the angular momentum exchanges within the convective envelope of a magnetically active star. This model assumes that the convection zone is strictly adiabatic and that the Taylor,Proudman balance holds, leading to an internal angular velocity constant over cylindrical surfaces co-axial with the rotation axis. It turns out that the angular velocity perturbations, whatever their origin, can be expressed in terms of the eigenfunctions of the equation of angular momentum conservation with stress-free boundary conditions. Moreover, a lower limit for the energy dissipation rate in a turbulent convection zone can be set, thanks to the extremal properties of the eigenfunctions. This approach allows to apply precise constraints on the amplitude and the radial profile of the angular velocity variations that are required to explain the observed orbital period changes in classical RS CVn binaries (i.e. with orbital period longer than 1,2 d and a subgiant secondary component). It is found that an angular velocity change as large as 10 per cent of the unperturbed angular velocity at the base of the stellar convection zone is needed. Such a large change is not compatible with the observations. Moreover, it would produce an energy dissipation rate much larger than the typical luminosities of the active components of RS CVn systems, except in the case that fast rotation and internal magnetic fields reduce the turbulent viscosity by at least 2 orders of magnitude with respect to the value given by the mixing-length theory. Therefore, the model proposed by Applegate should be rejected, at least in the case of classical RS CVn close binaries. Possible alternative models are briefly discussed, emphasizing the effects of intense magnetic fields (, 10 T) on the internal structure of magnetically active stars and the dynamics of close binary systems. [source]

Four-colour photometry of EY Dra: A study of an ultra-fast rotating active dM1-2e star

ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 3 2010
K. Vida
Abstract We present more than 1000-day long photometry of EY Draconis in BV (RI)C passbands. The changes in the light curve are caused by the spottedness of the rotating surface. Modelling of the spotted surface shows that there are two large active regions present on the star on the opposite hemispheres. The evolution of the surface patterns suggests a flip-flop phenomenon. Using Fourier analysis, we detect a rotation period of Prot = 0.45875 d, and an activity cycle with P , 350 d, similar to the 11-year long cycle of the Sun. This cycle with its year-long period is the shortest one ever detected on active stars. Two bright flares are also detected and analysed (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Photometric monitoring of the young star Par 1724 in Orion,

ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 5 2009
R. Neuhäuser
Abstract We report new photometric observations of the ,200 000 year old naked weak-line run-away T Tauri star Par 1724, located north of the Trapezium cluster in Orion. We observed in the broad band filters B, V, R, and I using the 90 cm Dutch telescope on La Silla, the 80 cm Wendelstein telescope, and a 25 cm telescope of the University Observatory Jena in Großschwabhausen near Jena. The photometric data in V and R are consistent with a ,5.7 day rotation period due to spots, as observed before between 1960ies and 2000. Also, for the first time, we present evidence for a long-term 9 or 17.5 year cycle in photometric data (V band) of such a young star, a cycle similar to that to of the Sun and other active stars (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

A catalogue of stars suspected of bright active regions

ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 1 2009
M. Zboril
Abstract We present a catalogue of field stars across the HR diagram suspected of bright active regions in their atmospheres. We aim at developing the first version of a database of active stars with bright regions (bright spots). Using a variety of databases and the internet we found and gathered all relevant archival data starting about 1973 and being important for developing such a catalogue. We found that the phenomenon starspot is now common to a variety of spectral type and luminosity classes. Our primary goal was to identify active solar and late type stars suspicious of bright active regions but the search offers expanded results including young T Tauri stars, eclipsing binaries with equal or mixed spectral types components (Algols,WUMa stars) and in some cases other types of objects. Moreover, the light curves analyses for eclipsing binaries offer reliable estimates for spot properties and it was found that 20% of binaries in the catalogue had a spot located near the L point (neck zone). At present, the catalogue consists of 134 stars and overall characteristics for them are organised in several files in ASCII format. The catalogue is electronically available (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

The source content of low galactic latitude XMM-Newton surveys

ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 1-2 2003
C. Motch
Abstract We present results from a project conducted by the Survey Science Center of the XMM-Newton satellite and aiming at the identification and characterisation of serendipitous EPIC sources at low galactic latitudes. Deep multi-colour optical imaging and spectroscopic observations have been obtained in the framework of several observing campaigns carried out at ING, CFHT and ESO. These observations have lead to a number of optical identifications, mostly with active stars. We describe the identified source content at low galactic latitudes and compare stellar populations properties at low and high galactic latitudes with those expected from stellar X-ray count models. [source]