X-ray emission from Hybrid stars
Abstract
We report on deep ROSAT observations of two Hybrid atmosphere stars, alpha TrA and iota Aur, and our analysis of these observations. We detect high energy transient phenomena on alpha TrA, and consider the implications of this discovery to the atmospheres of Hybrid stars. We detect iota Aur in the high energy passband of ROSAT, implying the existence of multi-million degree plasma on the star. Our major results include: The discovery of two large flare events, detected during pointed observations of alpha TrA; the demonstration that the flare emission most likely comes from the giant itself, rather than from a previously-unseen low-mass companion star; the demonstration that the plasma characteristics associated with the flares and with the 'quiescent' component are essentially indistinguishable; and that the geometric dimensions of the emitting plasma are considerably smaller than the critical dimension characterizing stable 'hot' coronal loop structures. Our results suggest that alpha TrA does not have any steady x-ray emission, consistent with theoretical expectations, and support the argument that Hybrid stars constitute a transitional type of object in which large-scale magnetic dynamo activity ceases, and the dominant spatial scales characterizing coronal structure rapidly decline as such stars evolve across the x-ray 'dividing line' in the H-R diagram.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1994
- Bibcode:
- 1994PhDT.........3K
- Keywords:
-
- Giant Stars;
- Space Plasmas;
- Stellar Atmospheres;
- Stellar Coronas;
- Stellar Flares;
- Stellar Radiation;
- X Rays;
- Coronal Loops;
- Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram;
- Magnetic Variations;
- Rosat Mission;
- Stellar Structure;
- Space Radiation