The Role of Magnetic Fields in Stellar Chromospheres and Transition Regions

Abstract

In this review based largely on observations with the IUE and Einstein satellites, I will summarize the different roles that magnetic fields play in controlling the structure and energy balance in the chromospheres and transition regions of late-type stars. Solar observations clearly show that magnetic flux tubes are the dominant structural element in the solar atmosphere, but the rotational modulation of plages (structures that are bright in ultraviolet emission lines) that overlie dark starspots provide strong evidence that magnetic flux tubes are the dominant structural elements in late-type stellar atmospheres as well. The wide range of radiative loss rates (and thus heating rates) observed in chromospheric and transition region emission lines also provides evidence for the importance of magnetic fields, but it is not yet clear whether the most active stars can be understood in terms of a large fractional coverage by solar-like magnetic flux tubes or whether brighter flux tubes are needed. I propose that the existence of a boundary between solar-like stars and those with little or no hot plasma, as well as the different types of G-K giants and supergiants, can be understood in terms of the fractional surface coverage by closed magnetic structures. Transition region downflows, the chromospheric heating mechanism, and the relative heating rates at different layers can be simply explained by the control of the energy balance by magnetic fields. Finally, I will intercompare models computed for active and quiet regions on the Sun with similar models computed for active and quiet stars, that is stars with intrinsically bright or weak emission lines.