We present a homogeneous analysis of line and continuum emission from simultaneous high-cadence spectra and photometry covering near-ultraviolet and optical wavelengths for 20 M dwarf flares. These ...data were obtained to study the white-light continuum components at bluer and redder wavelengths than the Balmer jump. Our goals were to break the degeneracy between emission mechanisms that have been fit to broadband colors of flares and to provide constraints for radiative-hydrodynamic (RHD) flare models that seek to reproduce the white-light flare emission. The model ratios are too large and the blue-optical slopes are too red in both the impulsive and gradual decay phases of all 20 flares. This discrepancy implies that further work is needed to understand the heating at high column mass during dMe flares.
Abstract
High-contrast imaging of debris disk systems permits us to assess the composition and size distribution of circumstellar dust, to probe recent dynamical histories, and to directly detect and ...characterize embedded exoplanets. Observations of these systems in the infrared beyond 2–3
μ
m promise access to both extremely favorable planet contrasts and numerous scattered-light spectral features—but have typically been inhibited by the brightness of the sky at these wavelengths. We present coronagraphy of the AU Microscopii (AU Mic) system using JWST’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) in two filters spanning 3–5
μ
m. These data provide the first images of the system’s famous debris disk at these wavelengths and permit additional constraints on its properties and morphology. Conducting a deep search for companions in these data, we do not identify any compelling candidates. However, with sensitivity sufficient to recover planets as small as ∼0.1 Jupiter masses beyond ∼2″ (∼20 au) with 5
σ
confidence, these data place significant constraints on any massive companions that might still remain at large separations and provide additional context for the compact, multiplanet system orbiting very close-in. The observations presented here highlight NIRCam’s unique capabilities for probing similar disks in this largely unexplored wavelength range, and they provide the deepest direct imaging constraints on wide-orbit giant planets in this very well-studied benchmark system.
KEPLER FLARES. I. ACTIVE AND INACTIVE M DWARFS Hawley, Suzanne L; Davenport, James R A; Kowalski, Adam F ...
The Astrophysical journal,
12/2014, Letnik:
797, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
We analyzed Kepler short-cadence M dwarf observations. Spectra from the Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5 m telescope identify magnetically active (H alpha in emission) stars. The active stars ...are of mid-M spectral type, have numerous flares, and have well-defined rotational modulation due to starspots. The inactive stars are of early M type, exhibit less starspot signature, and have fewer flares. A Kepler to U-band energy scaling allows comparison of the Kepler flare frequency distributions with previous ground-based data. M dwarfs span a large range of flare frequency and energy, blurring the distinction between active and inactive stars designated solely by the presence of H alpha . We analyzed classical and complex (multiple peak) flares on GJ 1243, finding strong correlations between flare energy, amplitude, duration, and decay time, with only a weak dependence on rise time. Complex flares last longer and have higher energy at the same amplitude, and higher energy flares are more likely to be complex. A power law fits the energy distribution for flares with log EKp > 31 erg, but the predicted number of low-energy flares far exceeds the number observed, at energies where flares are still easily detectable, indicating that the power-law distribution may flatten at low energy. There is no correlation of flare occurrence or energy with starspot phase, the flare waiting time distribution is consistent with flares occurring randomly in time, and the energies of consecutive flares are uncorrelated. These observations support a scenario where many independent active regions on the stellar surface are contributing to the observed flare rate.
WISEA J080822.18-644357.3, an M star in the Carina association, exhibits extreme infrared excess and accretion activity at an age greater than the expected accretion disk lifetime. We consider J0808 ...as the prototypical example of a class of M star accretion disks at ages 20 Myr, which we call "Peter Pan" disks, because they apparently refuse to grow up. We present four new Peter Pan disk candidates identified via the Disk Detective citizen science project, coupled with Gaia astrometry. We find that WISEA J044634.16-262756.1 and WISEA J094900.65-713803.1 both exhibit significant infrared excess after accounting for nearby stars within the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) beams. The J0446 system has >95% likelihood of Columba membership. The J0949 system shows >95% likelihood of Carina membership. We present new Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph optical spectra of all four objects, showing possible accretion signatures on all four stars. We present ground-based and TESS light curves of J0808 and 2MASS J0501-4337, including a large flare and aperiodic dipping activity on J0808, and strong periodicity on J0501. We find Paβ and Brγ emission indicating ongoing accretion in near-IR spectroscopy of J0808. Using observed characteristics of these systems, we discuss mechanisms that lead to accretion disks at ages 20 Myr, and find that these objects most plausibly represent long-lived CO-poor primordial disks, or "hybrid" disks, exhibiting both debris and primordial-disk features. The question remains: why have gas-rich disks persisted so long around these particular stars?
We present near-UV (NUV) flare spectra from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph during two moderate-amplitude U-band flares on the dM4e star GJ 1243. These spectra are some ...of the first accurately flux-calibrated, NUV flare spectra obtained over the impulsive phase in M dwarf flares. We observed these flares with a fleet of nine ground-based telescopes simultaneously, which provided broadband photometry and low-resolution spectra at the Balmer jump. An increase in the broadband continuum occurred with a signal-to-noise ratio >20 in the HST spectra, while numerous Fe ii lines and the Mg ii lines also increased but with smaller flux enhancements than the continuum radiation. These two events produced the most prominent Balmer line radiation and the largest Balmer jumps that have been observed to date in dMe flare spectra. A T = 9000 K blackbody underestimates the NUV continuum flare flux by a factor of two and is a poor approximation to the white light in these types of flare events. Instead, our data suggest that the peak of the specific continuum flux density is constrained to U-band wavelengths near the Balmer series limit. A radiative-hydrodynamic simulation of a very high energy deposition rate averaged over times of impulsive heating and cooling better explains the properties of the λ > 2500 flare continuum. These two events sample only one end of the empirical color-color distribution for dMe flares, and more time-resolved flare spectra in the NUV, U band, and optical from 2000 to 4200 are needed during more impulsive and/or more energetic flares.
We present new, near-infrared (1.1-2.4 m) high-contrast imaging of the debris disk around HD 15115 with the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) system coupled with the Coronagraphic ...High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (CHARIS). The SCExAO/CHARIS resolves the disk down to ∼ 0 2 (rproj ∼ 10 au), a factor of ∼3-5 smaller than previous recent studies. We derive a disk position angle of PA ∼ 279 4-280 5 and an inclination of i ∼ 85 3-86.2 . While recent SPHERE/IRDIS imagery of the system could suggest a significantly misaligned two-ring disk geometry, CHARIS imagery does not reveal conclusive evidence for this hypothesis. Moreover, optimizing models of both one- and two-ring geometries using differential evolution, we find that a single ring having a Hong-like scattering phase function matches the data equally well within the CHARIS field of view ( 1″). The disk's asymmetry, well evidenced at larger separations, is also recovered; the west side of the disk appears, on average, around 0.4 mag brighter across the CHARIS bandpass between 0 25 and 1″. Comparing Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) 50CCD optical photometry (2000-10500 ) with CHARIS near-infrared photometry, we find a red (STIS/50CCD−CHARIS broadband) color for both sides of the disk throughout the 0 4-1″ region of overlap, in contrast to the blue color reported at similar wavelengths for regions exterior to ∼2″. Further, this color may suggest a smaller minimum grain size than previously estimated at larger separations. Finally, we provide constraints on planetary companions and discuss possible mechanisms for the observed inner disk flux asymmetry and color.
We present Subaru/SCExAO+Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (CHARIS) broadband (JHK-band) integral field spectroscopy of HD 34700 A. CHARIS data recover HD 34700 A's disk ring ...and confirm multiple spirals discovered by Monnier et al. We set limits on substellar companions of ∼12 MJup at 0 3 (in the ring gap) and ∼5 MJup at 0 75 (outside the ring). The data reveal darkening effects on the ring and spiral, although we do not identify the origin of each feature such as shadows or physical features related to the outer spirals. Geometric albedos converted from the surface brightness suggest a greater scale height and/or prominently abundant submicron dust at position angles between ∼45° and 90°. Spiral fitting resulted in very large pitch angles (∼30°-50°); a stellar flyby of HD 34700 B or infall from a possible envelope is perhaps a reasonable scenario to explain the large pitch angles.
Abstract
We have examined internight variability of K2-discovered “dippers” that are not close to being viewed edge-on, as determined from previously reported ALMA images, using the SpeX spectrograph ...on NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility. The three objects observed were EPIC 203850058, EPIC 205151387, and EPIC 204638512 (=2MASS J16042165-2130284). Using the ratio of the fluxes between two successive nights, we find that for EPIC 204638512 and EPIC 205151387, we find that the properties of the dust differ from that seen in the diffuse interstellar medium and denser molecular clouds. However, the grain properties needed to explain the extinction does resemble those used to model the disks of many young stellar objects. The wavelength-dependent extinction models of both EPIC 204638512 and EPIC 205151387 includes grains at least 500
μ
m in size, but lacks grains smaller than 0.25
μ
m. The change in extinction during the dips, and the timescale for these variations to occur, imply obscuration by the surface layers of the inner disks. The recent discovery of a highly misinclined inner disk in EPIC 204638512 is suggests that the variations in this disk system may point to due to rapid changes in obscuration by the surface layers of its inner disk, and that other “face-on” dippers might have similar geometries. The He
i
line at 1.083
μ
m in EPIC 205151387 and EPIC 20463851 were seen to change from night to night, suggesting that we are seeing He
i
gas mixed in with the surface dust.
ABSTRACT We present a comprehensive study of the active dM4e star GJ 1243. We use previous observations and ground-based echelle spectroscopy to determine that GJ 1243 is a member of the Argus ...association of field stars, suggesting it is old. We analyze 11 months of 1 minute cadence data from Kepler, presenting Kepler flare frequency distributions, as well as determining correlations between flare energy, amplitude, duration, and decay time. We find that the exponent of the power-law flare energy distribution varies in time, primarily due to completeness of sample and the low frequency of high-energy flares. We also find a deviation from a single power law at high energy. We use ground-based spectroscopic observations that were simultaneous with the Kepler data to provide simultaneous photometric and spectroscopic analysis of three low-energy flares, the lowest-energy dMe flares with detailed spectral analysis to date on any star. The spectroscopic data from these flares extend constraints for radiative hydrodynamic flare models to a lower energy regime than has previously been studied. We use this simultaneous spectroscopy and Kepler photometry to develop approximate conversions from the Kepler bandpass to the traditional U and B bands. This conversion will be a critical factor in comparing any Kepler flare analyses to the canon of previous ground-based flare studies.
We present two new epochs of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph coronagraphic imaging, along with multi-epoch optical, near-IR, and radio monitoring, of the HD 163296 ...system. We find that ansae features identified in earlier-epoch HST imagery are a fourth ring that resides at a semimajor axis distance of 3 25 (330 au). We determine that the scale height of the dust is 64 au at a radial distance of 330 au. We observe surface brightness variations in the fourth ring on <3 month timescales, including large-scale, azimuthally asymmetric changes. This variability resembles earlier studies of the innermost disk ring (0 66, 67 au), suggesting a common origin. We find no evidence for the ejection of new HH knots predicted to occur in 2018. Moreover, our nondetection of older HH knots indicates that the knots could be experiencing less shock heating. We also detect one clear dipper event in our optical light curve from 2018. Using the timescale and spatial extent of the disk illumination changes we observe, we estimate that the source of this shadowing resides within 0.5 au from the star, must extend at least 0.08 au above the midplane of the disk, and has an azimuthal extent of 0.26 au. We estimate that the source of the dipper event reaches a scale height of 0.37 au above the midplane at 0.41 au and has an azimuthal extent of 0.3 au. We suggest that these similarities could indicate that the same (or similar) mechanisms are responsible for producing both dippers and variable ring illumination in the system.
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