Flare star

A flare star is a variable star which can undergo unpredictable dramatic increases in brightness for a few minutes. It is believed that the flares on flare stars are analogous to solar flares in that they are due to magnetic reconnection in the atmospheres of the stars. The brightness increase is across the spectrum, from X rays to radio waves. The first known flare stars (V1396 Cygni and AT Microscopii) were discovered in 1924. However, the best-known flare star (UV Ceti) was discovered in 1948, and today flare stars are sometimes known as UV Ceti variables.

Most flare stars are dim red dwarfs, although recent research indicates that less massive brown dwarfs might also be capable of flaring. The more massive RS Canum Venaticorum variables (RS CVn) are also known to flare, but it is understood that these flares are induced by a companion star in a binary system which causes the magnetic field to become tangled. Additionally, nine stars similar to the Sun have also been seen to undergo flare events^[1]. It has been proposed that the mechanism for this is similar to that of the RS CVn variables in that the flares are being induced by a companion, namely an unseen Jupiter-like planet in a close orbit ^[2].

Nearby flare stars

Flare stars are intrinsically faint, but have been found to distances of 1,000 light years from Earth ^[3].

Proxima Centauri

The Sun's nearest stellar neighbor Proxima Centauri is a flare star. Proxima Centauri is a flare star that undergoes random increases in brightness because of magnetic activity.^[4] The star's magnetic field is created by convection throughout the stellar body, and the resulting flare activity generates a total X-ray emission similar to that produced by the Sun.^[5]

Wolf 359

The flare star Wolf 359 is another near neighbor. Wolf 359, also known as Gliese 406 and CN Leo, is a red dwarf of spectral class M6.5 that emits X-rays.^[6] It is a UV Ceti flare star,^[7] and has a relatively high flare rate.

The mean magnetic field has a strength of about 2.2 kG, but this varies significantly on time scales as short as six hours.^[8] By comparison, the magnetic field of the Sun averages 1 Gauss, although it can rise as high as 3 kG in active sunspot regions.^[9]

Barnard's Star

Barnard's Star, the second nearest star system, is also suspected of being a flare star.

TVLM513-46546

A very low mass flare star is TVLM513-46546 slightly heavier than the lower limit for red dwarfs.

See also

• Solar flare
• Superflare

References

External links

• UV Ceti and the flare stars, Autumn 2003 Variable Star Of The Season prepared by Dr. Matthew Templeton, AAVSO(www.aavso.org)
• Stellar Flares - D. Montes, UCM.