HD 63021: Chromospheric Activity and Mass Transfer in a Close Binary
D. G. Whelan, S. D. Chojnowski, J. Labadie-Bartz, J. Daglen, K. Hudson, G. M. Casey, G. S. Stringfellow, K. V. Lester, J. Barry, J. Heinerikson, D. Pankratz, M.… 展开作者
D. G. Whelan, S. D. Chojnowski, J. Labadie-Bartz, J. Daglen, K. Hudson, G. M. Casey, G. S. Stringfellow, K. V. Lester, J. Barry, J. Heinerikson, D. Pankratz, M. Schreffler, R. Maderak, N. Lotspeich, M. Vitale-Sullivan, M. Woodard
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17 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal
Prompted by X-ray detections from multiple surveys, we investigated the A-type star HD 63021 and found that it is a double-lined spectroscopic binary with highly variable emission associated with the primary star. Analysis of our multi-epoch spectroscopic observations, the majority of which were carried out on small aperture telescopes, indicates a very short orbital period of just $2.9$ days, and a mass ratio M$_2$/M$_1$ of $0.23$. The A1 V star is a slow rotator, with a rotational speed of $\sim34$ km/s. Assuming its mass is $2.3$ M$_{\odot}$, the present-day secondary is an evolved star of $\sim0.5$ M$_{\odot}$ that nearly fills its Roche lobe. This secondary star rotates comparatively rapidly at $\sim44$ km/s, and we see evidence that it is chromospherically active. Analysis of a photometric lightcurve from TESS reveals two strong periods, one at the orbital period for the system and another at half the orbital period. These findings suggest that HD 63021 is a close binary system undergoing mass transfer from the secondary star onto the primary star -- in all ways like an Algol eclipsing binary system, except without the eclipse. We discuss the system's mass transfer, which is not steady but seems to run in fits and bursts, and infer the system's basic physical properties from an orbital parameter study, the Roche lobe geometry, and its extant X-ray emission.
Firstly, we review the stellar chromospheric activity in the optical wavelength. Secondly, we introduce our ongoing project of multi-wavelength high--resolution optical observations aimed at studying the chromospheric activity of different RS CVn stars. Finally, we give our future perspectives.
Chromospheric activity has been calibrated and widely used as an age indicator. However, it has been suggested that the viability of this age indicator is, in the best case, limited to stars younger than about 1.5 Gyr. I aim to define the age range for which chromospheric activity is a robust astrophysical clock. I collected literature measurements of the S-index in field stars, which is a measure of the strength of the H and K lines of the Ca II and a proxy for chromospheric activity, and exploited the homogeneous database of temperature and age determinations for field stars provided by the …
Chromospheric activity has been thought to decay smoothly with time and, hence, to be a viable age indicator. Measurements in solar type stars in open clusters seem to point to a different conclusion: chromospheric activity undergoes a fast transition from Hyades level to that of the Sun after about 1 Gyr of main--sequence lifetime and any decaying trend before or after this transition must be much less significant than the short term variations.
We use the LAMOST spectra of member stars in Pleiades, M34, Praesepe, and Hyades to study how chromospheric activity vary as a function of mass and rotation at different age. We measured excess equivalent widths of H$α$, H$β$, and Ca~{\sc ii} K based on estimated chromospheric contributions from old and inactive field dwarfs, and excess luminosities are obtained by normalizing bolometric luminosity, for more than 700 late-type stars in these open clusters. Results indicate two activity sequences in cool spot coverage and H$α$ excess emission among GK dwarfs in Pleiades and M dwarfs in Praesepe…
Several recent studies have reported differences in vsini, abundance-condensation temperature trends, and chromospheric activity between samples of stars with and without Doppler-detected planets. These findings have been disputed, and the status of these results remains uncertain. We evaluate these claims using additional published data and find support for all three.
The atmospheric activity of the Sun and solar-type stars is analysed involving observations from HK-project at the Mount Wilson Observatory, the California and Carnegie Planet Search Program at the Keck and Lick Observatories, and the Magellan Planet Search Program at the Las Campanas Observatory. We show that for stars of F, G and K spectral classes, the cyclic activity, similar to the 11-yr Solar cycles, is different: it becomes more prominent in K-stars. Comparative study of solar-type stars with different levels of the chromospheric and coronal activity confirms that the Sun belongs to sta…
Chromospheric activity monitoring of a wide range of cool stars can provide valuable information on stellar magnetic activity and its dependence on fundamental stellar parameters such as effective temperature and rotation.We compile a chromospheric activity catalogue of 4454 cool stars from a combination of archival HARPS spectra and multiple other surveys, including the Mount Wilson data that have recently been released by the NSO. We explore the variation in chromospheric activity of cool stars along the main sequence for stars with different effective temperatures. Additionally, we also per…
The strong chromospheric absorption lines Ca H & K are tightly connected to stellar surface magnetic fields. Only for the Sun, spectral activity indices can be related to evolving magnetic features on the solar disk. The Solar Disk-Integrated (SDI) telescope feeds the Potsdam Echelle Polarimetric and Spectroscopic Instrument (PEPSI) of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) at Mt. Graham International Observatory (MGIO), Arizona, U.S.A. We present high-resolution, high-fidelity spectra that were recorded on 184 & 82 days in 2018 & 2019 and derive the Ca H & K emission ratio, i.e., the S-index. In…
We study the differences in chromospheric structure induced in K stars by stellar activity, to expand our previous work for G stars, including the Sun as a star. We selected six stars of spectral type K with 0.82$<B-V<$0.90, including the widely studied Epsilon Eridani and a variety of magnetic activity levels. We computed chromospheric models for the stars in the sample, in most cases in two different moments of activity. The models were constructed to obtain the best possible match with the Ca II K and the H$β$ observed profiles. We also computed in detail the net radiative losses for each m…
Chromospheric activity is widely used as an age indicator for solar-type stars based on the early evidence that there is a smooth evolution from young and active to old and inactive stars. We analysed chromospheric activity in five solar-type stars in two open clusters, in order to study how chromospheric activity evolves with time. We took UVES high-resolution, high S/N ratio spectra of 3 stars in IC 4756 and 2 in NGC 5822, which were combined with a previously studied data-set and reanalysed here. The emission core of the deep, photospheric Ca II K line was used as a probe of the chromospher…
Spectropolarimetric data allow for simultaneous monitoring of stellar chromospheric $\log{R^{\prime}_{\rm{HK}}}$ activity and the surface-averaged longitudinal magnetic field, $B_l$, giving the opportunity to probe the relationship between large-scale stellar magnetic fields and chromospheric manifestations of magnetism. We present $\log{R^{\prime}_{\rm{HK}}}$ and/or $B_l$ measurements for 954 mid-F to mid-M stars derived from spectropolarimetric observations contained within the PolarBase database. Our magnetically active sample complements previous stellar activity surveys that focus on inac…
We present new 14 high-resolution echelle spectra to discuss the level of chromospheric activity of DM UMa in {He I} D3, {Na I} D1, D2, Halpha, and {Ca II} infrared triplet lines (IRT). It is the first time to discover the emissions above the continuum in the {He I} D3 lines on 2015 February 9 and 10. The emission on February 9 is the strongest one ever detected for DM UMa. We analysed these chromospheric active indicators by employing the spectral subtraction technique. The subtracted spectra reveal weak emissions in the {Na I} D1, D2 lines, strong emission in the Halpha line, and clear exces…
Strong spectral lines are useful indicators of stellar chromospheric activity. They are physically linked to the convection efficiency, differential rotation, and angular momentum evolution and are a potential indicator of age. However, for ages > 2 Gyr, the age-activity relationship remains poorly constrained thus hampering its full application. The Ca II infrared triplet (IRT lines) has been poorly studied compared to classical chromospheric indicators. We report in this paper absolute chromospheric fluxes in the three Ca II IRT lines, based on a new calibration tied to up-to-date model atmo…
Due to its unique long-term coverage and high photometric precision, observations from the Kepler asteroseismic investigation will provide us with the possibility to sound stellar cycles in a number of solar-type stars with asteroseismology. By comparing these measurements with conventional ground-based chromospheric activity measurements we might be able to increase our understanding of the relation between the chromospheric changes and the changes in the eigenmodes. In parallel with the Kepler observations we have therefore started a programme at the Nordic Optical Telescope to observe and m…
Stellar Chromospheric Activity Database of Solar-like Stars Based on the LAMOST Low-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey: II. the bolometric and photospheric calibration
The atmospheric activity of the Sun and Sun-like stars is analyzed involving observations from HK-project at the Mount Wilson Observatory, the California and Carnegie Planet Search Program at the Keck and Lick Observatories and the Magellan Planet Search Program at the Las Campanas Observatory. We show that for stars of F, G and K spectral classes, the cyclic activity, similar to the 11-yr solar cycles, is different: it becomes more prominent in K-stars. Comparative study of Sun-like stars with different levels of the chromospheric and coronal activity confirms that the Sun belongs to stars wi…
Stellar Chromospheric Activity Database of Solar-like Stars Based on the LAMOST Low-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey III. Calibrating the Chromospheric Basal Flux and the Connection to Stellar Rotation
Nanxun Innovation Institute, Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power（浙江水利水电学院南浔创新研究院）；National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院国家天文台）；University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学）；School of Physics and Optoelectronics Engineering, Anhui University（安徽大学物理与光电工程学院）
Studying chromospheric activity of contact binaries is an important way of revealing the magnetic activity processes of these systems. An efficient but somewhat neglected method for that is to follow the changes of the H$α$ line profiles via optical spectroscopy. Our goal was to perform a comprehensive analysis based on the optical spectral signs of chromospheric activity on the largest sample of contact binaries to date. We collected echelle spectra on 12 bright contact binaries and derived new radial velocity curves from our observations. For quantifying the apparent chromospheric activity l…
We analyze the X-ray emission and chromospheric activity of Sun-like stars of F, G and K spectral classes (late-type stars) studied in the framework of the HK project. More powerful coronas are possessed by stars displaying irregular variations of their chromospheric emission, while stars with regular cyclic activity are characterized by comparatively modest X-ray luminosities and ratios of the X-ray to bolometric luminosity. This indicates that the nature of processes associated with magnetic-field amplification on the convective envelope changes appreciably in the transition from small to la…
We present five decades of chromospheric activity measurements in 59 Sun-like stars as time series. These include and extend the 35 yr of stellar chromospheric activity observations by the Mount Wilson Survey (1966--2001), and continued observations at Keck by the California Planet Search (1996--). The Mount Wilson Survey was studied closely in 1995, and revealed periodic activity cycles similar to the Sun's 11 yr cycle. The California Planet Search provides more than five decades of measurements, significantly improving our understanding of these stars' activity behavior. We have curated the …
In this study, we present BVR photometry of V369 Gem in 2006 - 2008. We combined our V data with the data taken from the literature. We analysed all the data together and calculated the new light elements. General features of the light curves were discussed. The light curves were modelled with the Fourier method and the Fourier coefficients calculated. The cos(2theta) term was found to be dominant. The pre-whitened V light curves demonstrated that stellar spot activity also exist. There are generally two minima in the pre-whitened light curves. Thus, there must be two spotted areas, which are …
Further Investigation on Chromospheric Activity Patterns of the RS Canum Venaticorum Star V711 Tauri
Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院云南天文台）；Key Laboratory for the Structure and Evolution of Celestial Objects, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院天体结构与演化重点实验室）；International Centre of Supernovae, Yunnan Key Laboratory（国际超新星中心云南省重点实验室）；School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学天文与空间科学学院）
The young and magnetically active K dwarf Epsilon Eridani exhibits a chromospheric activity cycle of about 3 years. Previous reconstructions of its large-scale magnetic field show strong variations at yearly epochs. To understand how Epsilon Eridani's large-scale magnetic field geometry evolves over its activity cycle we focus on high cadence observations spanning 5 months at its activity minimum. Over this timespan we reconstruct 3 maps of Epsilon Eridani's large-scale magnetic field using the tomographic technique of Zeeman Doppler Imaging. The results show that at the minimum of its cycle, …
We present the results of a spectroscopic survey to characterize chromospheric activity, as measured by H$α$ emission, in low-mass members of the 500-Myr-old open cluster M37. Combining our new measurements of H$α$ luminosities ($L_{Hα}$) with previously cataloged stellar properties, we identify saturated and unsaturated regimes in the dependence of the $L_{Hα}$-to-bolometric-luminosity ratio, $L_{Hα}/L_{bol}$, on the Rossby number $R_o$. All rotators with Ro smaller than 0.03$\pm$0.01 converge to an activity level of $L_{Hα}/L_{bol}$ = (1.27$\pm$0.02) x 10$^{-4}$. This saturation threshold ($…
$\require{mediawiki-texvc}$A stellar chromospheric activity database of solar-like stars is constructed based on the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) Low-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey (LRS). The database contains spectral bandpass fluxes and indexes of Ca II H&K lines derived from 1,330,654 high-quality LRS spectra of solar-like stars. We measure the mean fluxes at line cores of the Ca II H&K lines using a 1 $Å$ rectangular bandpass as well as a 1.09 $Å$ full width at half maximum (FWHM) triangular bandpass, and the mean fluxes of two 20 $Å$ pseudo-continuum…
We report radial velocities (RVs), projected equatorial velocities (v sin i) and CaII triplet (CaT) chromospheric activity indices for 237 late-K to mid-M candidate members of the young open cluster NGC 2516. These stars have rotation periods between 0.1 and 15 days. Intermediate resolution spectra were obtained using the Giraffe spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope. Membership was confirmed on the basis of RVs for 210 targets. We see a marked increase in the fraction of rapidly rotators as we move to cooler spectral types. About 20 per cent of M0-M1 stars have v sin i >15km/s, increasing …
Using recently established empirical calibrations for the impact of chromospheric activity on the radii, effective temperatures, and estimated masses of active low-mass stars and brown dwarfs, we reassess the shape of the initial mass function (IMF) across the stellar/substellar boundary in the Upper Sco star-forming region (age 5-10 Myr). We adjust the observed effective temperatures to warmer values using the observed strength of the chromospheric H$α$ emission, and redetermine the estimated masses of objects using pre--main-sequence evolutionary tracks in the H-R diagram. The effect of the …
We gathered high resolution spectra for an ensemble of 55 bright active and inactive stars using the ARC 3.5 m Telescope Echelle Spectrograph at Apache Point Observatory ($R\approx$31,500). We measured spectroscopic effective temperatures, surface gravities and metallicities for most stars in the sample with SME and MOOG. Our stellar property results are consistent with the photometric effective temperatures from the Gaia DR2 pipeline. We also measured their chromospheric $S$ and $\log R^\prime_\mathrm{HK}$ indices to classify the stars as active or inactive and study the connection between ch…
We identify a set of 18 solar analogs among the seismic sample of solar-like stars observed by the Kepler satellite rotating between 10 and 40 days. This set is constructed using the asteroseismic stellar properties derived using either the global oscillation properties or the individual acoustic frequencies. We measure the magnetic activity properties of these stars using observations collected by the photometric Kepler satellite and by the ground-based, high-resolution Hermes spectrograph mounted on the Mercator telescope. The photospheric (Sph) and chromospheric (S index) magnetic activity …
We study the connection between the chromospheric and photospheric behaviour of the active late-type star FK Comae. We use spot temperature modelling, light curve inversion based on narrow- and wide-band photometric measurements, Halpha observations from 1997-2010, and Doppler maps from 2004-2010 to compare the behaviour of chromospheric and photospheric features. Investigating low-resolution Halpha spectra we find that the changes in the chromosphere seem to happen mainly on a time scale longer than a few hours, but shorter variations were also observed. According to the Halpha measurements p…
HD179949 is an F8V star, orbited by a close-in giant planet with a period of ~3 days. Previous studies suggested that the planet enhances the magnetic activity of the parent star, producing a chromospheric hot spot which rotates in phase with the planet orbit. However, this phenomenon is intermittent since it was observed in several but not all seasons. A long-term monitoring of the magnetic activity of HD179949 is required to study the amplitude and time scales of star-planet interactions. In 2009 we performed a simultaneous optical and X-ray spectroscopic campaign to monitor the magnetic act…
In this study, we consider chromospheric heating models for 55 Cancri in conjunction with observations. The theoretical models, previously discussed in Paper I, are self-consistent, nonlinear and time-dependent ab-initio computations encompassing the generation, propagation, and dissipation of waves. Our focus is the consideration of both acoustic waves and longitudinal flux tube waves amounting to two-component chromosphere models. 55 Cancri, a K-type orange dwarf, is a star of low activity, as expected by its age, which also implies a relatively small magnetic filling factor. The Ca II K flu…
This study depends on KIC 9641031 eclipsing binary system with a chromospherically active component. There are three type variations, such as geometrical variations due to eclipses, sinusoidal variations due to the rotational modulations and also flares, in the light curves obtained with the data taken from the Kepler Mission Database. Taking into account results obtained from KIC 9641031's observations in the Kepler Mission Database, we present and discuss the details of chromospheric activity. The sinusoidal light variations due to rotational modulation and the flare events were modelled sep…
We have used archival Hubble Space Telescope observations obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys to study the Hα emission properties of main sequence stars in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae. Using a combination of multi-band observations in the F606W, F814W and F658N bands, we search for stars showing Hα excess emission. An accurate photometric measurement of their Hα equivalent width allows us to identify objects with large Hα emission, which we attribute to mass accretion rather than enhanced chromospheric activity. The spatial position of some of these stars is coincident with that …
Stellar magnetic activity decays over the main-sequence life of cool stars due to the stellar spin-down driven by magnetic braking. The evolution of chromospheric emission is well-studied for younger stars, but difficulties in determining the ages of older cool stars on the main sequence have complicated such studies for older stars in the past. Here we report on chromospheric Ca II H and K line measurements for 26 main-sequence cool stars with asteroseismic ages older than a gigayear and spectral types F and G. We find that for the G stars and the cooler F-type stars which still have convecti…
We obtained new high-resolution spectra using the Lijiang 1.8-m and 2.4-m telescopes to investigate the chromospheric activities of V1355 Ori as indicated in the behaviors of Ca ii H&K, Hdelta, Hgamma, Hbeta, Na i D1, D2, Halpha and Ca ii infrared triplet (IRT) lines. The observed spectra show obvious emissions above the continuum in Ca ii H&K lines, absorptions in the Hdelta, Hgamma, Hbeta and Na i D1, D2 lines, variable behavior (filled-in absorption, partial emission with a core absorption component or emission above the continuum) in the Halpha line, and weak self-reversal emissions in the…
Studying cool star magnetic activity gives an important insight into the stellar dynamo and its relationship with stellar properties, as well as allowing us to place the Sun's magnetism in the context of other stars. Only 61 Cyg A (K5V) and $τ$ Boo (F8V) are currently known to have magnetic cycles like the Sun's, where the large-scale magnetic field polarity reverses in phase with the star's chromospheric activity cycles. $τ$ Boo has a rapid $\sim$240 d magnetic cycle, and it is not yet clear whether this is related to the star's thin convection zone or if the dynamo is accelerated by interact…
Context: Chromospheric activity produces both photometric and spectroscopic variations that can be mistaken as planets. Large spots crossing the stellar disc can produce planet-like periodic variations in the light curve of a star. These spots clearly affect the spectral line profiles and their perturbations alter the line centroids creating a radial velocity jitter that might contaminate" the variations induced by a planet. Precise chromospheric activity measurements are needed to estimate the activity-induced noise that should be expected for a given star. Aims: We obtain precise chromospher…
Several late-type stars present activity cycles similar to that of the Sun. However, these cycles have been mostly studied in F to K stars. Due to their small intrinsic brightness, M dwarfs are not usually the targets of long-term observational studies of stellar activity, and their long-term variability is generally not known. In this work, we study the long-term activity of two M dwarf stars: Gl 229 A (M1/2) and Gl 752 A (M2.5). We employ medium resolution echelle spectra obtained at the 2.15 m telescope at the Argentinian observatory CASLEO between the years 2000 and 2010 and photometric ob…
Context. The Mg I 4571 Å line and the b triplet are denoted in the literature as diagnostics of solar and stellar activity since their formation is in the low chromosphere. Aims. To investigate the potential of these four spectral lines as diagnostics of chromospheric activity in solar-like stars, studying the dependence of the intensity of these lines from local atmospheric changes by varying atmospheric models and stellar parameters. Methods. Starting with Next-Gen photospheric models, we build a grid of atmospheric models including photosphere, chromosphere and transition region and solve t…
AD Leo (GJ 388) is an active dM3 flare star extensively observed both in the quiescent and flaring states. Since this active star is near the fully-convective boundary, to study in detail its long-term chromospheric activity could be an appreciable contribution for the dynamo theory. Here, we analyze with the Lomb-Scargle periodogram the Ca II K line-core fluxes derived from CASLEO spectra obtained between 2001 and 2013 and the V magnitude from the ASAS database between 2004 and 2010. From both totally independent time-series, we obtain a possible activity cycle of period $\sim7$ years and a l…
Aims: We present a compilation of spectroscopic data from a survey of 144 chromospherically active young stars in the solar neighborhood which may be used to investigate different aspects of the formation and evolution of the solar neighborhood in terms of kinematics and stellar formation history. The data have already been used by us in several studies. With this paper, we make all these data accessible to the scientific community for future studies on different topics. Methods: We performed spectroscopic observations with echelle spectrographs to cover the entirety of the optical spectral ra…
I present chromospheric activity measurements of ~ 670 F, G, K and M main sequence stars in the Southern Hemisphere, from ~8000 archival high-resolution echelle spectra taken at Las Campanas Observatory since 2004. These stars were targets from the Old Magellan Planet Search, and are now potential targets for the New Magellan Planet Search that will look for rocky and habitable planets. Activity indexes (S-values) are derived from Ca II H & K line cores and then converted to the Mt. Wilson system. From these measurements, chromospheric (logrhk) indexes are derived, which are then used as indic…
Using a time series of high-resolution spectra and high-quality multi-colour photometry, we reconstruct surface maps of the primary component of the RS CVn type rapidly rotating eclipsing binary, SV Cam (F9V + K4V). We measure a mass ratio, q, of 0.641(2) using our highest quality spectra and obtain surface brightness maps of the primary component, which exhibit predominantly high-latitude spots located between 60-70-degree latitudes with a mean filling factor of about 35%. This is also indicated by the R-band light curve inversion, subjected to rigourous numerical tests. The spectral subtract…
We present theoretical models of chromospheric heating for 55 Cancri, an orange dwarf of relatively low activity. Self-consistent, nonlinear and time-dependent ab-initio numerical computations are pursued encompassing the generation, propagation, and dissipation of waves. We consider longitudinal waves operating among arrays of flux tubes as well as acoustic waves pertaining to nonmagnetic stellar regions. Additionally, flux enhancements for the longitudinal waves are also taken into account as supplied by transverse tube waves. The Ca II K fluxes are computed (multi-ray treatment) assuming pa…
This paper describes a multiwavelengh optical study of chromospheres in two X-ray/EUV selected active binary stars with strong H_alpha emission, V789 Mon (2RE J0725-002) and GZ Leo (2RE J1101+223). The goal of the study is to determine radial velocities and fundamental stellar parameters in chromospherically active binary systems in order to include them in the activity-rotation and activity-age relations. We carried out high resolution echelle spectroscopic observations and applied spectral subtraction technique in order to measure emission excesses due to chromosphere. The detailed study of …
Kepler photometry of the hot Neptune host star HAT-P-11 suggests that its spot latitude distribution is comparable to the Sun's near solar maximum. We search for evidence of an activity cycle in the CaII H & K chromospheric emission $S$-index with archival Keck/HIRES spectra and observations from the echelle spectrograph on the ARC 3.5 m Telescope at APO. The chromospheric emission of HAT-P-11 is consistent with a $\gtrsim 10$ year activity cycle, which plateaued near maximum during the Kepler mission. In the cycle that we observed, the star seemed to spend more time near active maximum than m…
M dwarfs are prime targets for planet search programs, particularly of those focused on the detection and characterization of rocky planets in the habitable zone. Understanding their magnetic activity is important because it affects our ability to detect small planets, and it plays a key role in the characterization of the stellar environment. We analyze observations of the Ca II H&K and Hα lines as diagnostics of chromospheric activity for low-activity early-type M dwarfs. We analyze the time series of spectra of 71 early-type M dwarfs collected for the HADES project for planet search purpose…
A detailed investigation of the magnetic properties of young Sun-like stars can provide valuable information on our Sun's magnetic past and its impact on the early Earth. We determine the properties of the moderately rotating young Sun-like star kappa Ceti's magnetic and activity cycles using 50 years of chromospheric activity data and six epochs of spectropolarimetric observations. The chromospheric activity was determined by measuring the flux in the Ca II H and K lines. A generalised Lomb-Scargle periodogram and a wavelet decomposition were used on the chromospheric activity data to establi…
M stars are ideal targets to search for Earth-like planets. However, they usually have high levels of magnetic activity, which could affect their habitability and make difficult the detection of exoplanets orbiting around them. Unfortunately, long-term variability of dM stars has not been extensively studied, due to their low intrinsic brightness. For this reason, in 1999 we started the HKalpha project, which systematically observes the spectra of a large number of stars, in particular dM stars, at the Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito (CASLEO). In this work, we study the long-term activity of …
We present the results of contemporaneous spectroscopic and photometric monitoring of the young solar-type star HD171488 (Prot~1.337 d) aimed at studying surface inhomogeneities at photospheric/chromospheric levels. Echelle FOCES spectra (R~40000) and Johnson photometry have been performed in 2006. Spectral type, rotational velocity, metallicity, and gravity were determined using a code developed by us. The metallicity was measured from the analysis of iron lines. The spectral subtraction technique was applied to the most relevant chromospheric diagnostics included in the FOCES spectral range …
We present a homogeneous study of chromospheric and coronal flux-flux relationships using a sample of 298 late-type dwarf active stars with spectral types F to M. The chromospheric lines were observed simultaneously in each star to avoid spread due to long term variability. Unlike other works, we subtract the basal chromospheric contribution in all the spectral lines studied. For the first time, we quantify the departure of dMe stars from the general relations. We show that dK and dKe stars also deviate from the general trend. Studying the flux-colour diagrams we demonstrate that the stars dev…
Recently, new debates about the role of layers of strong shear have emerged in stellar dynamo theory. Further information on the long-term magnetic activity of fully convective stars could help determine whether their underlying dynamo could sustain activity cycles similar to the solar one. We performed a thorough study of the short- and long-term magnetic activity of the young active dM4 star Gl 729. First, we analyzed long-cadence $K2$ photometry to characterize its transient events (e.g., flares) and global and surface differential rotation. Then, from the Mount Wilson $S$-indexes derived f…
One of the aims of the BCool programme is to search for cycles in other stars and to understand how similar they are to the Sun. In this paper we aim to monitor the evolution of $τ$ Boo's large-scale magnetic field using high-cadence observations covering its chromospheric activity maximum. For the first time, we detect a polarity switch that is in phase with $τ$ Boo's 120 day chromospheric activity maximum and its inferred X-ray activity cycle maximum. This means that $τ$ Boo has a very fast magnetic cycle of only 240 days. At activity maximum $τ$ Boo's large-scale field geometry is very simi…
We report the results of the analysis of high resolution photospheric line spectra obtained with the UVES instrument on the VLT for a sample of 15 solar-type stars selected from a recent survey of the distribution of H and K chromospheric line strengths in the solar-age open cluster M67. We find upper limits to the projected rotation velocities that are consistent with solar-like rotation (i.e., v sini ~< 2-3 km/s) for objects with Ca II chromospheric activity within the range of the contemporary solar cycle. Two solar-type stars in our sample exhibit chromospheric emission well in excess of e…
High resolution spectra of 123 red giant stars in the globular cluster M13 and 64 red giant stars in M92 were obtained with Hectochelle at the MMT telescope. Emission and line asymmetries in Halpha, and Ca K are identified, characterizing motions in the extended atmospheres and seeking differences attributable to metallicity in these clusters and M15. On the red giant branch, emission in Halpha generally appears in stars with T_eff < 4500 K and log L/L_sun > 2.75. Fainter stars showing emission are asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars or perhaps binary stars. The line-bisector for Halpha reveal…
