Linking chromospheric activity and magnetic field properties for late-type dwarf stars

Author(s)
, E. L. Brown, S. V. Jeffers, S. C. Marsden, J. Morin, S. Boro Saikia, P. Petit, M. M. Jardine, V. See, A. A. Vidotto, M. W. Mengel, M. N. Dahlkemper
Abstract

Spectropolarimetric data allow for simultaneous monitoring of stellar chromospheric logR'HK activity and the surface-averaged longitudinal magnetic field, Bl, giving the opportunity to probe the relationship between large-scale stellar magnetic fields and chromospheric manifestations of magnetism. We present logR'HK and/or Bl 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 inactive planet-search targets. We find a positive correlation between mean logR'HK and mean log |Bl|, but for G stars the relationship may undergo a change between logR'HK ~ -4.4 and -4.8. The mean logR'HK shows a similar change with respect to the logR'HK variability amplitude for intermediately active G stars. We also combine our results with archival chromospheric activity data and published observations of large-scale magnetic field geometries derived using Zeeman-Doppler Imaging. The chromospheric activity data indicate a slight under-density of late-F to early-K stars with -4.75 ≤ logR'HK ≤ -4.5. This is not as prominent as the original Vaughan-Preston gap, and we do not detect similar under-populated regions in the distributions of the mean |Bl|, or the Bl and logR'HK variability amplitudes. Chromospheric activity, activity variability, and toroidal field strength decrease on the main sequence as rotation slows. For G stars, the disappearance of dominant toroidal fields occurs at a similar chromospheric activity level as the change in the relationships between chromospheric activity, activity variability, and mean field strength.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
University of Southern Queensland, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, University of Montpellier, University of Toulouse, University of St. Andrews, Science and Operations Department - Science Division (SCI-SC), University of Exeter, University of Dublin, Leiden University, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume
514
Pages
4300-4319
No. of pages
20
ISSN
0035-8711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac1291
Publication date
08-2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/19f906f6-3b07-4362-832f-8ef06ba2655d