Correlations in Chromospheric and Coronal Activity Indicators of Giant Stars

The main goal of this paper is to use ultraviolet photometry from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite to study chromospheric activity among red giant and core-helium-burning (CHeB) stars. Correlations are sought between several chromospheric and coronal activity indicators for giants tha...

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Main Authors: Sara Crandall, Graeme H. Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2023-01-01
Series:The Astronomical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aca150
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author Sara Crandall
Graeme H. Smith
author_facet Sara Crandall
Graeme H. Smith
author_sort Sara Crandall
collection DOAJ
description The main goal of this paper is to use ultraviolet photometry from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite to study chromospheric activity among red giant and core-helium-burning (CHeB) stars. Correlations are sought between several chromospheric and coronal activity indicators for giants that were detected in soft X-rays by the ROentgen SATellite. There is an evident correlation between $\mathrm{log}({L}_{{\rm{X}}}/{L}_{\mathrm{bol}})$ and $\mathrm{log}({F}_{\mathrm{Mg}\,{\rm\small{II}}}/{F}_{\mathrm{bol}})$ , where L _X is the X-ray luminosity and F _Mg _II is the flux from Mg ii h and k emission lines, although there is substantial scatter. Using GALEX far-ultraviolet (FUV) magnitudes, the relationship between an FUV-excess parameter (a proxy for chromospheric and transition-region emission lines) and X-ray luminosity is documented. Correlations found herein are not strong, and may be linked to binarity. There is a varied range of FUV emission among CHeB stars, indicating that giants in this phase may be exhibiting differences or cycles in outer atmospheric activity. Additionally, efforts were made to constrain a relationship between excess FUV and near-ultraviolet emission and the projected surface rotation velocity, $v\sin i$ , of giants. No clear relationship was found. Obscurities in this relationship may result from a spread in $\sin i$ inclinations, and/or too few stars with $v\sin i\gt 7$ km s ^−1 .
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spelling doaj.art-2e654171f5684087adba3d07fff3f1862023-09-03T13:08:37ZengIOP PublishingThe Astronomical Journal1538-38812023-01-0116527010.3847/1538-3881/aca150Correlations in Chromospheric and Coronal Activity Indicators of Giant StarsSara Crandall0Graeme H. Smith1Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California Santa Cruz , CA 95064, USA ; sacranda@ucsc.eduDepartment of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California Santa Cruz , CA 95064, USA ; sacranda@ucsc.eduThe main goal of this paper is to use ultraviolet photometry from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite to study chromospheric activity among red giant and core-helium-burning (CHeB) stars. Correlations are sought between several chromospheric and coronal activity indicators for giants that were detected in soft X-rays by the ROentgen SATellite. There is an evident correlation between $\mathrm{log}({L}_{{\rm{X}}}/{L}_{\mathrm{bol}})$ and $\mathrm{log}({F}_{\mathrm{Mg}\,{\rm\small{II}}}/{F}_{\mathrm{bol}})$ , where L _X is the X-ray luminosity and F _Mg _II is the flux from Mg ii h and k emission lines, although there is substantial scatter. Using GALEX far-ultraviolet (FUV) magnitudes, the relationship between an FUV-excess parameter (a proxy for chromospheric and transition-region emission lines) and X-ray luminosity is documented. Correlations found herein are not strong, and may be linked to binarity. There is a varied range of FUV emission among CHeB stars, indicating that giants in this phase may be exhibiting differences or cycles in outer atmospheric activity. Additionally, efforts were made to constrain a relationship between excess FUV and near-ultraviolet emission and the projected surface rotation velocity, $v\sin i$ , of giants. No clear relationship was found. Obscurities in this relationship may result from a spread in $\sin i$ inclinations, and/or too few stars with $v\sin i\gt 7$ km s ^−1 .https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aca150Late stellar evolutionGiant starsX-ray starsUltraviolet astronomy
spellingShingle Sara Crandall
Graeme H. Smith
Correlations in Chromospheric and Coronal Activity Indicators of Giant Stars
The Astronomical Journal
Late stellar evolution
Giant stars
X-ray stars
Ultraviolet astronomy
title Correlations in Chromospheric and Coronal Activity Indicators of Giant Stars
title_full Correlations in Chromospheric and Coronal Activity Indicators of Giant Stars
title_fullStr Correlations in Chromospheric and Coronal Activity Indicators of Giant Stars
title_full_unstemmed Correlations in Chromospheric and Coronal Activity Indicators of Giant Stars
title_short Correlations in Chromospheric and Coronal Activity Indicators of Giant Stars
title_sort correlations in chromospheric and coronal activity indicators of giant stars
topic Late stellar evolution
Giant stars
X-ray stars
Ultraviolet astronomy
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aca150
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AT graemehsmith correlationsinchromosphericandcoronalactivityindicatorsofgiantstars