RS CVn-type Binaries Research Articles

A multiwavelength view of the open cluster NGC 2527: discovery of active stars

ABSTRACT Star clusters are ideal platforms for categorizing X-ray emitting stars and to study X-ray emission as a function of stellar age and activity. We present a comprehensive study of an open star cluster, NGC 2527, by combining data from XMM-UVOT-Gaia. Cluster membership of stars and their photometry are taken from Gaia and cross-matched with XMM and UVOT detections. We estimate the age of NGC 2527 as ∼630 Myr, reddening as E(B − V) = 0.13 mag, and a distance of 642 ± 30 pc using PARSEC isochrones. We detect five sub-subgiants and five bandgap stars, which defy single star evolution. We estimate the temperature, mass, radius, and luminosity of 53 single stars and 10 potential binary stars using a python code that fits single and composite Kurucz spectra to broad-band spectral energy distribution. Among the 12 X-ray emitting members, we find that five are potential RS CVn-type binaries, two are potential FK Comae type of red giant branch (RGB) stars, and five are main sequence (MS) stars with high coronal activity. Members with strong UV emission comprise one RGB star and several MS stars with UV excess suggestive of chromospheric activity. Based on comparison with other clusters, we tentatively suggest that X-ray luminosity of both RS CVn and contact binaries increases with age, suggesting that more active binaries are present in older clusters as compared to younger clusters. This study suggests possible presence of W UMa and FK Comae-type stars in younger (age ≃ 630 Myr) clusters.

Observations of Red Giants with Suspected Massive Companions

Abstract Motivated by the existence of binary systems where a stellar-mass black hole is bound to a normal star, we selected four red giants with large radial velocity (RV) variation from the survey of Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) grid stars and monitored their RVs for several months. None turned out to contain a massive companion above 2.5 solar masses. The red giant TYC 9299-1080-1 with a large RV and a large proper motion is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with a period of 81 days. It is an extreme halo object moving at 350 km s−1 almost directly toward the Galactic center. HD 206092 is a double-lined binary with a short period of 4.37 days. It belongs to the rare class of active RS CVn-type binaries with evolved primary components, apparently undergoing mass transfer. The X-ray luminosity of HD 206092 is about twice as high as the most luminous coronal X-ray emitters observed by ROSAT, including II Peg and the prototype star RS CVn. HD 318347 has a variable double-peaked emission-line spectrum (not a giant), while HD 324668 has a constant RV. Despite the overall good quality of the SIM survey data confirmed by a comparison with Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) mean RVs, the few large RV variations are explained, mostly, by erroneous data. We discuss the significance of the non-detection of massive companions in the SIM grid sample and the associated work.

The first Doppler images of the eclipsing binary SZ Piscium

We present the first Doppler images of the active eclipsing binary system SZ Psc, based on the high-resolution spectral data sets obtained in 2004 November and 2006 September--December. The least-squares deconvolution technique was applied to derive high signal-to-noise profiles from the observed spectra of SZ Psc. Absorption features contributed by a third component of the system were detected in the LSD profiles at all observed phases. We estimated the mass and period of the third component to be about $0.9 M_{\odot}$ and $1283 \pm 10$ d, respectively. After removing the contribution of the third body from the LSD profiles, we derived the surface maps of SZ Psc. The resulting Doppler images indicate significant starspot activities on the surface of the K subgiant component. The distributions of starspots are more complex than that revealed by previous photometric studies. The cooler K component exhibited pronounced high-latitude spots as well as numerous low- and intermediate-latitude spot groups during the entire observing seasons, but did not show any large, stable polar cap, different from many other active RS CVn-type binaries.

Study of X-ray emission from the old open cluster, M67

We present an X-ray analysis of a 4 Gyr old open cluster, M67, using archival XMM–Newton data. The aim of this study was to find new X-ray members of M67, and to use the updated member list for studying X-ray variability, and derive the X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) of different stellar types and compare them with other star clusters of similar age. We report the detection of X-ray emission from 25 members of M67, with membership based primarily on their proper motion, of which one X-ray source is a new member. Supplementing this study with previous ROSAT and Chandra studies of M67, and using the most recent proper motion study by Vereshchagin et al., we have compiled a revised list of X-ray emitting members of M67 consisting of 43 stars. 16 of these are known RS CVn type binaries having orbital periods <10 d, and near-circular orbits, five are contact binaries with orbital periods <6 h, five are yellow and blue stragglers, two are Algol-type binaries, and one source is a cataclysmic variable. 14 members do not have any orbital information and cannot be classified. 14 of the X-ray sources detected do not have any optical counterpart down to a magnitude of V ≃ 22, and their membership is uncertain. Finally, we report the XLFs of RS CVn type and other types of stars in M67 and compare them with other open clusters of intermediate-to-old age.

A study of X-ray flares - II. RS CVn-type binaries

We present an analysis of seven flares detected from five RS CVn-type binaries (UZ Lib, \sigma Gem, \lambda And, V711 Tau and EI Eri) observed with XMM-Newton observatory. The quiescent state X-ray luminosities in the energy band of 0.3-10.0 keV of these stars were found to be 10^{30.7-30.9} erg/s. The exponential decay time in all the sample of flares range from ~ 1 to 8 hrs. The luminosity at peak of the flares in the energy band of 0.3-10.0 keV were found to be in the range of 10^{30.8} - 10^{31.8} erg/s. The great sensitivity of the XMM-EPIC instruments allowed us to perform time resolved spectral analysis during the flares and also in the subsquent quiescent phases. The derived metal abundances of coronal plasma were found to vary during the flares observed from \sigma Gem, V771 Tau and EI Eri. In these flares elemental abundances found to be enhanced by factors of ~ 1.3-1.5 to the quiescent states. In most of the flares, the peak temperature was found to be more than 100 MK whereas emission measure increased by factors of 1.5 - 5.5. Significant sustained heating was present in the majority of flares. The loop lengths (L) derived for flaring structure were found to be of the order of 10^{10 -11} cm and are smaller than the stellar radii (R*) i.e. L/R* \lesssim 1. The flare from \sigma Gem showed a high and variable absorption column density during the flare.

Differential Rotation in Two RS CVn Systems: σ Gem and ζ And

AbstractThe differentially rotating convective envelope is an indispensable element of the magnetic dynamo working in RS CVn-systems. Tidal coupling is responsible for maintaining fast rotation, and also the observed high level of magnetic activity. In this work, we compare the physical properties of two well known RS CVn-type binaries, that is the long-period system σ Gem and the ellipsoidal variable ζ And. For the comparison, we use the results obtained from processing time-series Doppler images. We also aim at understanding how differential rotation could be affected by tidal forces in such close binaries.

Period investigation of two RS CVn-type binary stars: RU Cancri and AW Herculis

Orbital period variations of two RS CVn-type binaries, RU Cnc and AW Her, are presented based on the analysis of all available times of light minima. It is discovered that the orbital period of RU Cnc shows two possible period oscillations with periods of 13.38(±0.23) and 37.6(±3.4) years. The corresponding amplitudes of the oscillations are about 0.0098(±0.0023) and 0.0119(±0.0017) days. For AW Her, it is found that the period shows a cyclic variation with a period of 12.79(±0.34) years and an amplitude of about 0.0327(±0.0063) days. Since RU Cnc and AW Her are two RS CVn-type systems, the cyclic period oscillations are more likely to be caused by the magnetic activity cycles.

Investigating ChaMPlane X‐Ray Sources in the Galactic Bulge with Magellan LDSS2 Spectra

We have carried out optical and X-ray spectral analyses on a sample of 136 candidate optical counterparts of X-ray sources found in five Galactic-bulge fields included in our Chandra Multi-wavelength Plane Survey. We use a combination of optical spectral fitting and quantile X-ray analysis to obtain the hydrogen column density towards each object, and a three-dimensional dust model of the Galaxy to estimate the most probable distance in each case. We present the discovery of a population of stellar coronal emission sources, likely consisting of pre-main sequence, young main sequence and main sequence stars, as well as a component of active binaries of RS CVn or BY Dra type. We identify one candidate quiescent low-mass X-ray binary with a sub-giant companion; we note that this object may also be an RS CVn system. We report the discovery of three new X-ray detected cataclysmic variables (CVs) in the direction of the Galactic Center (at distances ~2kpc). This number is in excess of predictions made with a simple CV model based on a local CV space density of <~ 10^-5 pc^-3, and a scale height ~200pc. We discuss several possible reasons for this observed excess.

On X‐Ray Optical Depth in the Coronae of Active Stars

We have investigated the optical thickness of the coronal plasma through the analysis of high-resolution X-ray spectra of a large sample of active stars observed with the High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer on Chandra. In particular, we probed for the presence of significant resonant scattering in the strong Lyman series lines arising from hydrogen-like oxygen and neon ions. The active RS CVn-type binaries II Peg and IM Peg and the single M dwarf EV Lac show significant optical depth. For these active coronae, the Lyα/Lyβ ratios are significantly depleted as compared with theoretical predictions and with the same ratios observed in similar active stars. Interpreting these decrements in terms of resonance scattering of line photons out of the line of sight, we are able to derive an estimate for the typical size of coronal structures, and from these we also derive estimates of coronal filling factors. For all three sources we find that both the photon path length as a fraction of the stellar radius and the implied surface filling factors are very small and amount to a few percent at most. The measured Lyα/Lyβ ratios are in good agreement with APED theoretical predictions, thus indicating negligible optical depth, for the other sources in our sample. We discuss the implications for coronal structuring and heating flux requirements. For the stellar sample as a whole, the data suggest increasing quenching of Lyα relative to Lyβ as a function of both LX/Lbol and the density-sensitive Mg XI forbidden-to-intercombination line ratio, as might generally be expected.

The Coronae of AB Doradus and V471 Tauri: Primordial Angular Momentum versus Tidal Spin‐up

The zero-age main-sequence star AB Dor and the K dwarf component of the V471 Tau close binary have essentially identical rotation rates and spectral types. An analysis of their high-resolution Chandra X-ray spectra reveals remarkably similar coronal characteristics in terms of both temperature structure and element abundances. Both stars show depletions of low first ionization potential (FIP) elements by factors of ~3, with higher FIP elements showing more mild depletions. No evidence for enhancements of very low FIP (<7 eV) elements, such as Na, Al, and Ca, as compared to other low-FIP elements, was found. The abundance anomaly pattern for AB Dor and V471 Tau is similar to, although less extreme than, the abundance anomalies exhibited by active RS CVn-type binaries. While we find statistically significant structure in the underlying differential emission measure distributions of these stars over narrow temperature intervals, this structure is strongly dependent on the lines used in the analysis and is probably spurious. On the basis of their X-ray similarities, we conclude that the exact evolutionary state of a star has little effect on coronal characteristics and that the parameters that dominate coronal structure and composition are simply the rotation rate and spectral type.

Detection of X-Ray Resonance Scattering in Active Stellar Coronae

An analysis of Lyman series lines arising from hydrogen-like oxygen and neon ions in the coronae of the active RS CVn-type binaries II Peg and IM Peg, observed using the {\it Chandra} High Resolution Transmission Grating Spectrograph, shows significant decrements in the Ly$\alpha$/Ly$\beta$ ratios as compared with theoretical predictions and with the same ratios observed in similar active binaries. We interpret these decrements in terms of resonance scattering of line photons out of the line-of-sight; these observations present the first strong evidence for this effect in active stellar coronae. The net line photon loss implies a non-uniform and asymmetric surface distribution of emitting structures on these stars. Escape probability arguments, together with the observed line ratios and estimates of the emitting plasma density, imply typical line-of-sight sizes of the coronal structures that dominate the X-ray emission of $10^{10}$ cm at temperatures of $3\times 10^6$ K and of $10^8$ cm at $10^7$ K. These sizes are an order of magnitude larger than predicted by simple quasi-static coronal loops models, but are still very small compared to the several $10^{11}$ cm radii of the underlying stars.

Temperature and size of starspots from line depth ratios

It has been recently proved that line-depth ratios (LDR) are a powerful tool for temperature discrimination, able to resolve differences K. With the help of such diagnostics it has been possible to detect long-term variations with time scales of several years, ascribed to activity cycles (e.g. Gray et al. 1996a, 1996b). In very few cases, rotational modulation due to surface inhomogeneities has been observed (Toner & Gray 1988). In this work, we have made a test of this method on three slowly-rotating active binaries of RS CVn type by means of observations accomplished at Catania Astrophysical Observatory at a resolution R = 14 000 with the aim to search for and analyze rotational modulation of photospheric temperature. We suppose that in these stars the passage of dark spots produces modulation of the center-line depth of different amount in lines of different sensitivity to temperature, that cannot be analyzed by means of the Doppler-imaging technique. It is instead useful for fast-rotating active stars where cool spots of a few tenths of the stellar surface give rise to bumps in the line profiles. In order to determine spot temperatures of active binary systems, we have converted single LDRs to temperature through calibration relations. A sharp rotational modulation of the average surface temperature with amplitudes of 177 K, 119 K, and 127 K for VY Ari, IM Peg and HK Lac, respectively, has been detected with errors of about 10 K. Such variations are almost perfectly correlated to the simultaneous light curves, lower temperature corresponding to lower luminosity. We show that, on the basis of the amplitudes and maximum observed values of temperature and brightness, it is possible to define, in an univocal way, the temperature and the fractional spotted area by means of an analytical approach.

Star-Spots Studies for Three Short Period RS CVn-Type Binaries

Light curve analysis for three short-period RS CVn-type binaries were performed, using: a) Fourier analysis techniques for light curve changes in the frequency domain; b) photometric curve fit by means of numerical quadratures to develop theoretical light curves appropriate to RS CVn stars. The two methods were applied to the systems ER Vul, BH Vir, and UV Psc. Improved physical and geometrical parameters are found by taking the average of the results measured by the above two methods.

The Scaling of Solar Flare Hard X-ray Emission to Other Flaring Objects in the Universe

Fletcher &amp; Martens have successfully modeled solar hard X-ray sources observed at the top and footpoints of flaring magnetic loops with a Fokker-Planck type particle transport code. I show here that there are invariances in the Fokker-Planck equations that make these results applicable to environments with vastly different physical parameters, such as hard X-ray flares in accretion disks in active galactic nuclei, and in RS CVn and ALGOL type binaries.

The Rise and Fall of μ Velorum: A Remarkable Flare on a Yellow Giant Star Observed with theExtreme Ultraviolet Explorer

The close visual double μ Velorum (HD 93497; G6 III+dF) consists of a yellow giant and a fainter companion currently 2'' apart. Recently μ Vel was the source of a large flare recorded by the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer. The long 1.5 day decay phase was like the extremes seen on hyperactive RS CVn-type binaries. The primary, μ Vel A is a 3 M☉ star, in the rapid braking zone redward of G0 III. Yellow giants are not commonly reported as flare stars, perhaps because the first-crossers are relatively rare and not well represented in the observational samples. The secondary star is classified G2 V, but the 1700 A energy distribution places it earlier on the main sequence, probably F4 or F5 V, in a class also not usually known for coronal variability. The long duration of the μ Vel event suggests that it occurred in a significantly elongated structure of moderate density, ne 109 cm-3. If it was a magnetic plasmoid, like a coronal mass ejection on the Sun, then such events might play a role in shedding angular momentum from active evolved stars. The associated spin-down could control the activity survival time of red giants (in later stages of evolution than the first-crosser μ Vel) whose dynamos were rejunvenated by dredge-up of angular momentum from the interior, or more exotic sources, such as cannibalism of close-in substellar companions during the first or second ascent.

Orbital period studies of the RS CVn-type binaries II. UV Piscium

Many available published times of light minima of the active binary system UV Psc have been collected and analyzed using a new method proposed by Kalimeris et al. (1994). Similar to what was seen in other RS CVn-type binaries, the orbital period of UV Psc oscillates with a period of about 61 years and an semi-amplitude of 0.21 ×10-5 days. Two possible mechanisms (magnetic activity cycle mechanism and a light-time effect due to a hypothetical third body) that could modulated the orbital period behaviour are studied. We think that the cyclical period change in UV Psc can most probably be attributed to a magnetic activity cycle in the primary component.

Long-Term Photometry of RT Lacertae: 1. Light and Colour Variation

The peculiar chromospherically active binary system RT Lac was observed in B and V bands between 1989 and 1992. The four-year photoelectric B and V light curves are presented. The light and colour variations in the four special regions of the light curve between 1978 and 1992 are discussed. The available photometry obtained by the present authors defines at least three consecutive maxima in the variation of the brightness of the system at second maximum and in mid-primary eclipse. The behaviour of the light and colour changes in mid-primary and at second maximum harmonizes with the common property of the RS CVn-type binaries. However, the light changes at first maximum do not resemble either at second maximum or in mid-primary minimum. Therefore, we conclude that the observed features cannot be attributed to the spottedness of the more massive component alone. The signs of the starspots are masked by the matter in front of the more massive component at the first maximum. The present data indicate that the magnetic cycle in RT Lac is about 12 years, which is analogous to the Sun's 11-year sunspot cycle.

VLBI for probing large-scale magnetic structures of stars

By VLBI astrometry, we show that the two RSCVn type binaries, UX Ari and σ2 CrB, have a preferred site of radio emission which is the intra-system region. It is known that radio emission from these stars is from the gyro-synchrotron process associated with large-scale magnetic fields. High gravity in the intra-system region might favor dense magnetic loops. Interactions in this region between loops attached to the surfaces of the two stellar components might produce reconnections required for electron acceleration.

Suspected Starspots Found on the K Giants in Seven Ellipsoidal RS CVn-Type Binaries

Suspected Starspots Found on the K Giants in Seven Ellipsoidal RS CVn-Type Binaries

Flares in Late-type Stars: X-Ray

Flare-like brightenings, similar to those observed on the Sun but on a larger energy scale, are observed in a variety of late-type stars, including classical M dwarf flare stars, RS CVn-type binaries and pre-main sequence (PMS) objects. These events, which are observable over the whole electromagnetic spectrum, are interpreted as due to rapid release of magnetic energy at the star surface. Comprehensive reviews of stellar flares have been presented by Haisch &amp;: Rodonò (1989), Pettersen (1991), Haisch et al. (1991), Pallavicini (1992a), as well as in contributions at this conference. Here I will discuss X-ray emission, with emphasis on flares on M dwarfs and RS CVn binaries.X-ray observations are important because they provide information on the high-temperature coronal portion of the flare and, at least in principle, could give clues as to the primary energy release and particle acceleration. In the stellar case there are severe limitations of the diagnostic capabilities of X-ray observations, in comparison to the solar case. In fact, stellar flares have up to now been observed only at soft X-ray energies (≤ 10 keV) where thermal processes greatly dominate over non-thermal ones (optical continuum observations have to be used in this case as a proxy for hard X-rays). Moreover, stellar X-ray observations are spatially unresolved and so far of poor spectral resolution. Thus, the observational data that are readily accessible are only light curves, average temperatures T and volume integrated emission measures EM = ∫ n2dV, but there is no direct information on parameters such as density, volume and detailed geometry.