The X-ray spectra of the flaring and quiescent states of AT Microscopii observed by XMM-Newton

The X-ray spectrum of the late-type M-dwarf binary AT Mic (dM4.5e+dM4.5e) is observed in the wavelength range 1-40 Å by means of RGS and EPIC-MOS on board XMM-Newton. During the exposure a flare occured. We have performed a 3-temperature fit and a DEM-modeling to the flaring and quiescent part of the spectrum. We report the coronal temperature distribution, emission measures, and abundances of the flaring and quiescent state of this bright X-ray source. The temperature range stretches from about 1 to 60 MK. The total volume emission measure in this temperature interval is ~ 12.2 x 10⁵¹ cm^-3 for the quiescent state and ~ 19.5 x 10⁵¹ cm^-3 for the flare state. This difference is due to the contribution of the hot temperature component. The high-resolution spectrum of AT Mic, obtained by RGS, is dominated by the H- and He-like transitions of C, N, O, and Ne and by Fe XVII lines, produced by the plasma with temperatures from 1 to 10 MK. The EPIC-MOS spectrum below 10 Å shows H- and He-like Ne, Si and the iron K-shell transitions. They are produced by the hot component (30 MK). The iron K-shell is more prominent in the flare state. The abundance pattern in the quiescent state of AT Mic shows the depletion of low-FIP elements relative to high-FIP elements, indicating the presence of an I(nverse)FIP effect in this active star. In the flare state, however, some flattening of this IFIP effect is present.

Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA scienc mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and the USA (NASA).