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The stellar activity-rotation relationship: The stellar activity-rotation relationship

Wright, N.J.; Drake, J.J.; Mamajek, E.E.; Henry, G.W.

Authors

J.J. Drake

E.E. Mamajek

G.W. Henry



Abstract

Using a new catalog of 824 solar and late-type stars with measured X-ray luminosities and rotation periods we have studied the relationship between rotation and stellar activity that is believed to be a probe of the underlying stellar dynamo. Using an unbiased subset of the sample we calculate the power law slope of the unsaturated regime of the activity-rotation relationship as LX/Lbol α Roβ, where β = –2.70 ± 0.13. Notably this is inconsistent with the canonical β = –2 slope to a confidence of 5σ are argues for an interface-type dynamo. Super-saturation is observed for the fastest rotators in our sample and its parametric dependencies are explored. Significant correlations are found with both the corotation radius and the excess polar updraft, the latter theory being preferred as it is supported by other observations. We also present a new X-ray population synthesis model of the mature stellar component of our Galaxy and use it to reproduce deep observations of a high Galactic latitude field. The model, XStar, can be used to test models of stellar spin-down and dynamo decay, as well as for estimating stellar X-ray contamination rates for non-stellar studies. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Citation

Wright, N., Drake, J., Mamajek, E., & Henry, G. (2013). The stellar activity-rotation relationship: The stellar activity-rotation relationship. Astronomische Nachrichten, 334(1-2), 151-154. https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201211764

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 5, 2012
Online Publication Date Feb 6, 2013
Publication Date 2013-02
Deposit Date Jun 16, 2023
Journal Astronomische Nachrichten
Print ISSN 0004-6337
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 334
Issue 1-2
Pages 151-154
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201211764
Keywords Space and Planetary Science; Astronomy and Astrophysics; stars: activity; stars: coronae; stars: late-type; stars: magnetic fields; stars: rotation; X-rays: stars