Constraining the stellar energetic particle flux in young solar-like stars

Author(s): Ch. Rab, M. Padovani, M. Güdel, I. Kamp, W.-F. Thi, P. Woitke
Abstract: Anomalies in the abundance measurements of short lived radionuclides in meteorites indicate that the protosolar nebulae was irradiated by a large number of energetic particles (E≳ 10 MeV), often called solar cosmic rays. The particle flux of the contemporary Sun cannot explain these anomalies, but, similar to T Tauri stars, the young Sun was more active and probably produced enough high energy particles. However, the stellar particle (SP) flux of young stars is essentially unknown. We model the impact of high-energy ionization sources on the chemistry of the circumstellar environment (disks and envelopes). The model includes X-ray radiative transfer and makes use of particle transport models to calculate the individual molecular hydrogen ionization rates. We study the impact on the chemistry via the ionization tracers HCO⁺ and N₂H⁺. We argue that spatially resolved observations of those molecules combined with detailed models allow for disentangling the contribution of the individual high-energy ionization sources and to put constraints on the SP flux in young stars.
Organisation(s): Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s): University of Groningen, Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, University of St. Andrews, INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri
Journal: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Volume: 14
Pages: 310-311
No. of pages: 2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131900156X
Publication date: 2019
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nutrition and Dietetics, Medicine (miscellaneous), Space and Planetary Science
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/d9bdf2ef-fdbe-4132-9a85-bf2622340caa

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