Detection of radio continuum emission from Procyon

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (35) References (29) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Detection of Radio Continuum Emission from Procyon Drake, Stephen A. ; Simon, Theodore ; Brown, Alexander Abstract We have detected the F5 IV-V star Procyon as a weak and variable 3.6 cm radio continuum source using the VLA. The inferred radio luminosity is similar to, though some-what higher than, the X-band luminosity of the active and flaring sun. The 33 micro-Jy flux density level at which we detected Procyon on four of five occasions is close to the 36 micro-Jy radio flux density expected from a model in which the radio emission consists of two components: optically thick 'stellar disk' emission with a 3.6 cm brightness temperature of 20,000 K that is 50 percent larger than the solar value, and optically thin coronal emission with an emission measure the same as that indicated by Einstein and EXOSAT X-ray flux measurements in 1981 and 1983. The maximum mass-loss rate of a warm stellar wind is less than 2 x 10 exp -11 solar mass/yr. An elevated flux density of 115 micro-Jy observed on a single occasion provides circumstantial evidence for the existence of highly localized magnetic fields on the surface of Procyon. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: March 1993 DOI: 10.1086/172436 Bibcode: 1993ApJ...406..247D Keywords: Continuous Radiation; Dwarf Stars; Radio Emission; Stellar Luminosity; Stellar Radiation; Nonthermal Radiation; Very Large Array (Vla); Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (3)