Starspot Activity Research Articles

Further Study of Starspot Activity and Measurement of Differential Rotation for SZ Piscium

We present a series of nine Doppler images of the magnetically active K component of the RS CVn-type binary SZ Piscium (SZ Psc), based on high-resolution spectroscopic data collected from 2014 to 2018. We apply least-squares deconvolution (LSD) to all spectra to extract the average profiles with high signal-to-noise ratios for Doppler imaging. The surface maps of the K subgiant show starspots widely distributed along its latitude and longitude. A prominent, nonaxisymmetric polar spot around phase 0 is revealed by all images with sufficient phase coverage, which may be a stable feature on the K component. The starspots evolve over a timescale of 1 month. We have determined the surface shear rate of the K component from starspot maps reconstructed 10 days apart in 2017 November–December through the cross-correlation method. The surface differential rotation parameters are Ωeq = 1.591 ± 0.002 rad day−1 and ΔΩ = 0.035 ± 0.003 rad day−1. The absorption lines contributed from the tertiary component of SZ Psc are detected in all LSD profiles, and we measure the radial velocity of the binary system and the tertiary component to derive an elliptical orbit with a period of 1530 ± 3 days and a mass of 0.75 ± 0.06 M ⊙ for the tertiary component.

Physical Parameters and Magnetic Activity of M-type Stars Based on the LAMOST DR9, SDSS, and TESS Surveys

We analyze a catalog comprising 781,232 spectra from 641,095 M dwarf stars from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) low-resolution spectroscopic data release 9. Based on the equivalent width of the Hα line, we ascertain the activity properties of the stars, identifying a total of 107,134 active stars, with 31,175 exhibiting Hα variations. Furthermore, we establish a positive correlation between starspot activity from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite light curves, and chromospheric activity observed through LAMOST spectra on M dwarf stars. Utilizing LAMOST and Gaia data, we map the two-dimensional distribution of active fractions across all M dwarfs in the Milky Way based on Hα and Hβ lines, confirming a decrease in the active fraction as the distance above the Galactic disk increases. Additionally, we investigate the relationship between chromospheric activity and absolute height above the Galactic disk in various M subtypes. Our findings reveal distinct trends: for M0 to M5 dwarf stars, the active fraction of Hα and Hβ lines rapidly decreases within the 0–300 pc range. In the 300–500 pc range, M0 to M4 dwarf stars exhibit a gradual increase, followed by a decrease in the 500–1000 pc range. Conversely, M5 dwarf stars show no significant gradual increase in the 300–500 pc range and decrease in the 500–1000 pc range. More data will be needed to confirm the phenomenon.

Long-term stellar activity of M dwarfs

Studies of the rotation and activity of M type stars are essential in order to enhance our understanding of stellar dynamos and angular momentum evolution. Using the outstanding photometric capabilities of space telescopes, even those rotation signals with low amplitudes can now be investigated in previously unrivaled detail. By combining data of K2 and the TESS prime mission, the star spot activity of M dwarfs can be monitored over a timescale of half a decade. In the framework of our study on the rotation–activity relation for bright and nearby M dwarfs, we also aim to investigate their long-term activity. While K2 was observing fields distributed around the ecliptic plane, the TESS prime mission was oriented along a line of ecliptic longitude, with one camera centered on an ecliptic pole. Due to these different observing strategies, the overlap between K2 and the TESS prime mission is marginal. However, 45 stars from our sample were observed with both missions, and of these, two early M-type stars that fulfill our selection criteria, EPIC 202059229 and EPIC 245919787, were analyzed in more detail. We find that, for both stars, the rotation period did not change, while the rotational phase did change for EPIC 245919787 by ∼0.2. The amplitude of the spot-induced variability changed for both stars but more significantly for EPIC 245919787. By comparing the cumulative flare frequency distributions, we find that the flare activity for EPIC 202059229 is unchanged, while it slightly changes for EPIC 245919787 between the K2 and TESS epochs. Using a combination of light curves from K2 and TESS that span a baseline of up to 4.5 yr, we are able to measure significant differential rotation for EPIC 245919787. Furthermore, we show that combining missions like K2 and TESS is a promising method for detecting stellar activity cycles.

Star-spot activity, orbital obliquity, transmission spectrum, physical properties, and transit time variations of the HATS-2 planetary system

Aims. Our aim in this paper is to refine the orbital and physical parameters of the HATS-2 planetary system and study transit timing variations and atmospheric composition thanks to transit observations that span more than 10 yr and that were collected using different instruments and pass-band filters. We also investigate the orbital alignment of the system by studying the anomalies in the transit light curves induced by starspots on the photosphere of the parent star. Methods. We analysed new transit events from both ground-based telescopes and NASA’s TESS mission. Anomalies were detected in most of the light curves and modelled as starspots occulted by the planet during transit events. We fitted the clean and symmetric light curves with the JKTEBOP code and those affected by anomalies with the PRISM+GEMC codes to simultaneously model the photometric parameters of the transits and the position, size, and contrast of each starspot. Results. We found consistency between the values we found for the physical and orbital parameters and those from the discovery paper and ATLAS9 stellar atmospherical models. We identified different sets of consecutive starspot-crossing events that temporally occurred in less than five days. Under the hypothesis that we are dealing with the same starspots, occulted twice by the planet during two consecutive transits, we estimated the rotational period of the parent star and, in turn the projected and the true orbital obliquity of the planet. We find that the system is well aligned. We identified the possible presence of transit timing variations in the system, which can be caused by tidal orbital decay, and we derived a low-resolution transmission spectrum.

Magnetic Activity of Millions of G-type Stars Based on the LAMOST DR10 Low-resolution Spectral and TESS Light-curve Surveys and the Future CSST Survey

The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) data release 10 (DR10) provides over 3 million G-type stellar spectra, which are important for the study of chromospheric activity of solar-like stars. We have used the iSpec program to perform spectral subtraction on the G-type stellar spectra obtained from LAMOST DR10 with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 10. We have calculated the magnetic activity of G-type stars using Hα lines and analyzed the Hα variation. Among the more than 3 million spectra from more than 2.3 million stars, a total of 220,000 stars show excess chromospheric activity. There were a total of about 480,000 stars with repeated observations. About 390,000 stars were found to exhibit variations in the Hα line, and 14,000 stars showed changes in their radial velocity. By using the Gaia data, we determined the distances of these stars above the Galactic disk. We first concluded that the fraction of G-type active stars decreases with increasing distance above the Galactic disk. By using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite light curves, we obtained the effective fluctuation range of the light curve caused by the starspot and confirmed that there was a positive correlation between the starspot and chromospheric activity. We also concluded that RHα′ tends to be stable for Rossby number (Ro) < 0.13 and that RHα′ decreases as Ro increases in the region Ro ≥ 0.13.

Characterization of starspots on a young M-dwarf K2-25: multiband observations of stellar photometric variability and planetary transits

ABSTRACT Detailed atmospheric characterization of exoplanets by transmission spectroscopy requires careful consideration of stellar surface inhomogeneities induced by star-spots. This effect is particularly problematic for planetary systems around M-dwarfs, and their spot properties are not fully understood. We investigated the stellar activity of the young M-dwarf K2-25 and its effect on transit observations of the sub-Neptune K2-25 b. From multiband monitoring observations of stellar brightness variability using ground-based telescopes and Transiting Exoplanets Survey Satellite, we found that the temperature difference between the spots and photosphere is &amp;lt;190 K and the spot covering fraction is &amp;lt;61 per cent (2σ). We also investigated the effect of starspot activity using multiepoch, multiband transit observations. We rule out cases with extremely low spot temperatures and large spot covering fractions. The results suggest that spots could distort the transmission spectrum of K2-25 b by as much as ∼100 ppm amplitude, corresponding to the precision of JWST/NIRSPEC of the target. Our study demonstrates that simultaneous multiband observations with current instruments can constrain the spot properties of M-dwarfs with good enough precision to support atmospheric studies of young M-dwarf planets via transmission spectroscopy.

Investigation on transit observations of the WASP-10 and WASP-11 systems

In the study, we present the results of new transit observations of two hot Jupiter WASP-10 b and WASP-11 b using the T100 telescope in Turkey. By analyzing the new transit light curves with the MCMC method through EXOFASTv2, we updated the physical parameters of two hot-Jupiter systems. The updated parameters are in agreement with the previously determined values within the uncertainties except eccentricity and impact factor. Starspot activity, noticed in previous studies, was not clearly detectable due to our highly scattering transit light curves of both systems. We determined an updated linear ephemeris and orbital period for the two systems by combining our new mid-transit times with the ones in the literature. There is no significant evidence for the orbital period variation of the systems in the most-updated O−C diagram. In addition, we could not find any strong signals for both two systems in the period analysis.

Starspot Activity without Pulsation in the Binary System KIC 5444392 Revisited

We revisited the short-period (∼1.5 days) binary system KIC 5444392, which shows quasi-period modulated light variations. Previous studies indicated that these variations might be caused by stellar pulsations. In our work, we used the PHOEBE program, which revealed that this binary is an almost circular (e ≈0.007) detached system with two G-type stars. The masses and radii of the primary and secondary stars were obtained as M1=1.21±0.06M⊙, R1=1.69±0.09R⊙ and M2=1.27±0.06M⊙, R2=1.69±0.09R⊙, respectively. Based on these parameters, the isochrone fitting showed that this system consists of a subgiant and a main-sequence star, whose ages are 3.89−0.34+0.37 Gyr. Neither the primary nor the secondary star is in the mass range of Cepheid and Gamma Dor. Fourier analysis showed that the fitting residuals varied stochastically in a frequency around the orbital frequency, which means that the quasi-periodic signals resulted from starspots rather than stellar pulsation. Similar stellar parameters of both components of KIC 5444392 and the frequency analysis lead us to believe that starspots are in both stars. The autocorrelation analysis on the residuals indicates that the decay timescale of the starspots is about 53 days, and the rotational periods of both stars are very close to the orbital period of the binary. This result adheres to the trend that the decay timescale increases following the rotational frequency. Thus, studying this binary could increase our understanding of the light variations in the binary system.

X-Ray and UV Observations of the Contact Binary KIC 9832227

We investigate the X-ray and UV emission from the contact binary star KIC 9832227, which was observed with XMM-Newton for one orbital cycle. The binary is detected with an average X-ray luminosity of 3.4 × 1030 erg s−1. The X-ray emission is restricted to energies below 3 keV and originates from a multitemperature plasma with temperatures up to 1 keV. The X-ray spectrum has at least two distinct components, a cooler, mostly steady component, and a hotter component exhibiting significant variability. The variable X-ray emission appears to originate from a compact flare near the contact region between the two stars that is being eclipsed by the secondary. We analyze the eclipse profile to constrain the location, size, and density of the flaring region. The remaining X-ray emission is not eclipsed and could originate from the polar region on the primary star or an extended corona. The UV emission exhibits the same nearly sinusoidal modulation at half the orbital period that is observed at longer wavelengths. The primary and secondary eclipses have slightly different depths, which is generally attributed to starspot activity. Using simulations of the UV light curve with stellar atmosphere models, we deduce the presence of a starspot near the polar region of the primary, and we determine the time of primary eclipse.

A model for spin–orbit commensurability and synchronous starspot activity in stars with close-by planets

Context. The rotation period of some planet-hosting stars appears to be in close commensurability with the orbital period of their close-by planets. In some cases, starspots rotating with a commensurable period have been detected, while the star displays latitudinal differential rotation. Aims. A model is proposed to interpret such a phenomenon based on the excitation of resonant oscillations in the interior magnetic field of the star by a component of the tidal potential with a very low frequency in the reference frame rotating with the star. Methods. A magnetic flux tube located in the overshoot layer of the star is assumed in order to study the excitation of the resonant oscillations in the magnetostrophic regime. The model considers a planet on a circular oblique orbit, and the growth timescale of the oscillations is estimated. To keep the system in resonance with the exciting potential despite the variations in the magnetic field or tidal frequency, a self-regulating mechanism is proposed. Results. The model is applied to ten systems and proves capable of accounting for the observed close commensurability in eight of them by assuming a magnetic field between 102 and 104 G. Systems with distant low-mass planets, such as AU Mic and HAT-P-11, cannot be interpreted by the proposed model. Conclusions. Consequences for the spin–orbit evolution of the systems, including the dynamical tides and gyrochronology of planet-hosting stars, are discussed together with the effects on the chromospheric features produced by star–planet magnetic interactions.

Dynamo activity of the K dwarf KOI-883 from transit photometry mapping

ABSTRACT The Kepler mission target star KOI-883 is notable in being a low-mass K2V dwarf with moderately fast 8.99-d rotation and hosting a single transiting hot Jupiter in a 2.69-d orbit. This combination thus presents a particular opportunity to study star-spot activity by using the many deep planetary transits apparent in the light curve to map the stellar surface. The data have been analysed using spot modelling and temporal mapping methods we have used for other Kepler host stars, and a search for flares was conducted. Our results indicate a low-latitude region of the photosphere marked by distinct areas of individual or grouped star-spots with moderately high solar-type differential rotation of 0.102 ± 0.011 rad d−1, but with just two major flares observed across 400 d. These results imply a rotational shear significantly greater than that of our slower rotating Sun. The observed flares are more energetic than typical solar flares, but similar to those of other magnetically active cool dwarfs.

A PHOTOMETRIC STUDY OF THE ACTIVE EW/RS BINARY STAR SYSTEM: GSC 05586-00371

GSC 05586-00371 is a fast-rotating (Prot ≈ 0.44 days) eclipsing binary. Our study showed that this star system is an overcontact eclipsing binary star that belongs to the W UMa class with characteristics of RS CVn type stars. We studied this binary system by photometric means through the V and I bandpass where data by the ASAS-SN survey have also been utilized. our photometry yielded a more precise orbital period that was obtained on its discovery. ASAS-SN data over a 6-year period revealed a long-term photometric wave that is attributed to star spot activity. We monitored the binary system over a 73-hour monitoring period to detect any possible flares from the system, where two consecutive events were monitored from one of our observing stations. Through the use of the Wilson-Devinney program as applied by Binary Maker 3.0, we have obtained a model for this binary system that reveals the presence of star spots on both components. Our results show that the star spot activity is rather dynamic where their influence on the system’s light output changed on seasonal timescales.

Simulating starspot activity jitter for spectral types F–M: Realistic estimates for a representative sample of known exoplanet hosts

AbstractDark spots on the surface of active stars produce changes in the shapes of the spectral lines that mimic spurious Doppler shifts, compromising the detection of small planets by means of the radial velocity (RV) technique. Modeling the spot‐driven RV variability (known as “jitter”) and how it affects the RV data sets is therefore crucial to design efficient activity‐filtering techniques and inform observing strategies. Here, we characterize starspots and simulate the RV curves induced by them to determine typical jitter amplitudes for a representative sample of 15 known host stars spanning between F and M spectral types. We collect information on the activity index from the literature for 205 stars and, due to a lack of data in the temperature range 4,000–4,500 K, we measure it for 10 stars using archival data. Additional stellar parameters required for the simulations are collected from the literature or constrained by observational data in order to derive realistic estimates. Our results can be used as reference to determine typical peak‐to‐peak spot‐induced RV jitter in the visible domain that can be expected when targeting host stars with different properties.

A New Magnetically Active Binary System Discovered in Yunnan-Hong Kong Wide Field Survey

We present a newly discovered magnetically active binary system detected by Yunnan-Hong Kong wide field survey, with an orbital period of 0.60286 days. Two color photometry for the system was performed using the 1m Cassegrain telescope of Yunnan Observatories with its CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) camera. In the observed light curves, there are clearly different light maxima existed in the out-of-eclipse regions. We made spectroscopic observations for the binary system using the 2.4m telescope and YFOSC (Yunnan Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera) of Lijiang station of Yunnan Observatories, China. The radial velocity curve was derived for primary star of the binary system. The primary star exhibited strong chromospheric activity, which confirms that the distortion of the light curves results from the starspot activity on the primary star. Through analyzing the light curves and RV (Radial Velocity) curve mentioned above by means of the W-D (Wilson-Devinney) code, orbital parameters and starspot configuration of the binary system are obtained. Finally, we have discussed the properties of the binary system, and given the prospects on the future work.

Comprehensive photometric investigation of an active early K-type contact system—IL Cancri

Abstract Comprehensive photometric investigation of the early K-type contact binary IL Cnc was carried out. A few light curves from both ground-based telescopes and the Kepler space telescope were obtained (or downloaded) and then analyzed in detail. They are mostly found to be asymmetric and there are even continuously changing O’Connell effects in the light curves from Kepler K2 data, suggesting the system to be highly active. Using the Wilson–Devinney code (version 2013), photometric solutions were derived and then compared. It is found that the calculation of the mass ratio is easily affected by the spot settings. Combining the radial velocities determined from LAMOST median resolution spectral data, the mass ratio of the binary components is found to be M2/M1 = 1.76 ± 0.05. The components are in shallow contact ($f\sim 9\%$) and have a temperature difference about T2 − T1 = −280 ± 20 K. The system is demonstrated to be W-subtype, which may be a common feature of K-type contact binaries. The masses of the binary components were estimated to be $M_1\sim 0.51\, M_{\odot }$ and $M_2\sim 0.90\, M_{\odot }$. The values are in good agreement with that deduced from the parallax data of Gaia. The results suggest that the primary component lacks luminosity compared with the zero main sequence. The Hα spectral line of the primary component is found to be peculiar. Combining newly determined minimum light times with those collected from literature, the orbital period of IL Cnc is studied. It is found that the (O − C) values of the primary minima show sinusoidal variation while those of the secondary do not. The oscillation is more likely to be caused by the starspot activities, yet this assumption needs more data to support.

10 Years of Stellar Activity for GJ 1243

Abstract The flaring M4 dwarf GJ 1243 has become a benchmark for studying stellar flare and starspot activity thanks to the exceptional photometric monitoring archive from the Kepler mission. New light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission for this star allow precise stellar activity characterization over more than a decade timescale. We have carried out the first flare and starspot analysis of GJ 1243 from over 50 days of data from TESS Sectors 14 and 15. Using 133 flare events detected in the 2 minute cadence TESS data, we compare the cumulative flare frequency distributions, and find the flare activity for GJ 1243 is unchanged between the Kepler and TESS epochs. Two distinct starspot groups are found in the TESS data, with the primary spot having the same rotational period and phase as seen in Kepler. The phase of the secondary spot feature is consistent with the predicted location of the secondary starspot and measurement of weak differential rotation, suggesting this secondary spot may be long-lived and stable in both latitude and longitude. As expected for this highly active star, the constant spot and flare activity reveal no sign of solar-like activity cycles over 10 yr. However, we highlight the unique ability for Kepler and TESS to use flare rates to detect activity cycles.

The Continuing Search for Evidence of Tidal Orbital Decay of Hot Jupiters

Abstract Many of the known hot Jupiters are formally unstable to tidal orbital decay. The only hot Jupiter for which orbital decay has been directly detected is WASP-12, for which transit-timing measurements spanning more than a decade have revealed that the orbital period is decreasing at a rate of , corresponding to a reduced tidal quality factor of about 2 × 105. Here, we present a compilation of transit-timing data for WASP-12 and 11 other systems that are especially favorable for detecting orbital decay: KELT-16; WASP-18, 19, 43, 72, 103, 114, and 122; HAT-P-23; HATS-18; and OGLE-TR-56. For most of these systems we present new data that extend the time baseline over which observations have been performed. None of the systems besides WASP-12 display convincing evidence for period changes, with typical upper limits on dP/dt on the order of 10−9 or 10−10, and lower limits on the reduced tidal quality factor on the order of 105. One possible exception is WASP-19, which shows a statistically significant trend, although it may be a spurious effect of starspot activity. Further observations are encouraged.

Starspot activity of HD 199178

Context. Studying the spots of late-type stars is crucial for distinguishing between the various proposed dynamo mechanisms believed to be the main cause of starspot activity. For this research it is important to collect observation time series that are long enough to unravel both long- and short-term spot evolution. Doppler imaging is a very efficient method for studying spots of stars that cannot be angularly resolved.Aims. High-resolution spectral observations during 1994–2017 are analysed in order to reveal long- and short-term changes in the spot activity of the FK Comae-type subgiant HD 199178.Methods. Most of the observations were collected with the Nordic Optical Telescope. The Doppler imaging temperature maps were calculated using an inversion technique based on Tikhonov regularisation and utilising multiple spectral lines.Results. We present a unique series of 41 temperature maps spanning more than 23 years. All reliable images show a large cool spot region centred near the visible rotation pole. Some lower latitude cool features are also recovered, although the reliability of these is questionable. There is an expected anti-correlation between the mean surface temperature and the spot coverage. Using the Doppler images, we construct the equivalent of a solar butterfly diagram for HD 199178.Conclusions. HD 199178 clearly has a long-term large and cool spot structure at the rotational pole. This spot structure dominated the spot activity during the years 1994–2017. The size and position of the structure has evolved with time, with a gradual increase during the last years. The lack of lower latitude features prevents the determination of a possible differential rotation.

The Rise of ROME. I. A Multiwavelength Analysis of the Star–Planet Interaction in the HD 189733 System

Abstract Several “hot Jupiter” host stars appear to exhibit enhanced chromospheric activity, coronal flaring, and starspot development synchronized to their planetary orbits. These effects have been attributed to tidal and/or magnetic interactions between the star and exoplanet. The best studied among such systems is HD 189733, which has previously been observed from radio to X-ray wavelengths. Here I present ∼4.75 GHz Arecibo radio telescope observations of HD 189733 during a fraction of the exoplanet orbital phase range previously associated with enhanced coronal X-ray flaring. No radio flares from the lower corona were detected. I also leverage Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars, Automated Photoelectric Telescope, and Wise photometry to measure the occurrences of minima associated with enhanced starspot activity. The phasing of these minima with the exoplanet orbit does not reveal any synchronized active region behavior. Moreover, for the first time, I combine X-ray, ultraviolet, photometric, Ca ii H and K, Hα, and radio observations of HD 189733 to conduct an extensive, holistic reexamination of stellar activity in this system. Through the presentation of new data, and by merging physical and statistical analytic approaches, I demonstrate that the previously asserted enhancements in activity, allegedly synchronized to certain exoplanet orbital phases, are likely the result of inadequately sampled intrinsic stellar activity from an active star, rather than star–planet interactions.

Starspot rotation rates versus activity cycle phase: Butterfly diagrams ofKeplerstars are unlike that of the Sun

Context. During the solar magnetic activity cycle the emergence latitudes of sunspots change, leading to the well-known butterfly diagram. This phenomenon is poorly understood for other stars since starspot latitudes are generally unknown. The related changes in starspot rotation rates caused by latitudinal differential rotation can, however, be measured.Aims. Using the set of 3093Keplerstars with measured activity cycles, we aim to study the temporal change in starspot rotation rates over magnetic activity cycles, and how this relates to the activity level, the mean rotation rate of the star, and its effective temperature.Methods. We measured the photometric variability as a proxy for the magnetic activity and the spot rotation rate in each quarter over the duration of theKeplermission. We phase-folded these measurements with the cycle period. To reduce random errors, we performed averages over stars with comparable mean rotation rates and effective temperature at fixed activity-cycle phases.Results. We detect a clear correlation between the variation of activity level and the variation of the starspot rotation rate. The sign and amplitude of this correlation depends on the mean stellar rotation and – to a lesser extent – on the effective temperature. For slowly rotating stars (rotation periods between 15 − 28 days), the starspot rotation rates are clearly anti-correlated with the level of activity during the activity cycles. A transition is observed around rotation periods of 10 − 15 days, where stars with an effective temperature above 4200 K instead show positive correlation.Conclusions. Our measurements can be interpreted in terms of a stellar “butterfly diagram”, but these appear different from that of the Sun since the starspot rotation rates are either in phase or anti-phase with the activity level. Alternatively, the activity cycle periods observed byKeplerare short (around 2.5 years) and may therefore be secondary cycles, perhaps analogous to the solar quasi-biennial oscillations.