Spectral observations of red dwarfs II. New observations of flare stars in the Pleiades cluster region

We studied the spectra of 24 flare stars of the Pleiades cluster region obtained on the 2.6m telescope of the Byurakan observatory in the years 1986–1989. From the spectral indices of titanium oxide (TiO) and other chemical elements of the stars investigated we determined their spectral classes and luminosities (absolute visual stellar magnitudes). The agreement of these moduli of the stars with the distance modulus of the Pleiades cluster confirms that 21 of them belong to the cluster. Only three of them (FSP 169, FSP 377, and FSP 435) are possibly not members of the cluster. This indicates that the flare activity of a star is a reliable criterion for its membership in a nearby stellar system (cluster or association).Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 4, 1994.     

Flares of red dwarf stars and the galactic X-ray background

The mean density of the UV Cet-type flare stars in the solar neighbourhood is estimated. If differences of activity levels on different flare stars are taken into account, their summary flare activity is equivalent to 0.03 YZ CMi's flare activity per cubic parsec or to 4×10²⁶ erg s^–1 pc^–3 in U-passband. From the X-ray flare observation on YZ CMi of 19.10.74 we estimate the luminosity of stellar flares in soft and intermediate X-ray. The ratio of X-ray to optical radiation for stellar flares is close to the respective ratio for strong solar chromospheric flares. It is shown the set of red-dwarf flare stars has all essential features of an ensemble of discrete X-ray sources to represent the galactic diffuse X-ray background.     

Investigation of flare stars in the pleiades by the method of stellar tracks. I

Observations of the Pleiades cluster by the method of stellar tracks, carried out on the 40-inch Schmidt telescope of Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, have resulted in the detection of 49 flares from 38 stars, 17 of which were not previously known to be flare stars. It is shown that for bright stars (U ≤ 16.0) the detection of flares in observations by the method of stellar tracks is at least three times more efficient than for observations by the method of stellar chains. Another advantage of the first method is that one can detect brief flares that last less than 6 min. The visual stellar magnitude at the minimum for the brightest of the flare stars that we found is 11.92. This raised the upper luminosity limit of known flare stars in the Pleiades by 0.21 magnitude. A comparison of the expected number of bright flare stars in the Pleiades with the number of all bright members of the cluster (falling in the range from V ≈ 12.0 toV ≈16.0) suggested that all these stars evidently must be flare stars. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 351–358, July–September, 1999.     

On the 100-th anniversary of the birth of Academician V. A. Ambartsumian

A brief review is given of the applications of some methods, mainly developed at the Byurakan Observatory, to the statistics of flare stars. These developments originate in papers by Ambartsumian which led to the fundamental conclusion that a stage of flare activity is a natural stage in the evolution of red dwarf stars. In terms of their scientific value and novelty, the mathematical methods developed by Ambartsumian for solving specific astrophysical problems in the statistics of flare stars are just as significant as the astrophysical results obtained using these methods.     

Subsystems of flare stars of different ages in Orion and the Pleiades

The two best-studied subsystems of flare stars, in Orion and the Pleiades, which are of considerably different ages, are compared. It is shown that the observed differences between them are consistent with the evolutionary status of flare stars that represent a stage in the evolution of red dwarfs. It is found that less luminous stars exhibit higher flare frequencies. For equally luminous stars, flare activity is lower in older stars.Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 59–72, January–February, 1994.     

Variation of the Flare Frequency of Flare Stars. II. Flare Stars of the Pleiades Cluster

The possible variation of the flare frequencies of flare stars in the Pleiades cluster is considered. It is shown that of the 75 chosen stars that each exhibit five or more flares, 33 can be suspected of variation of flare frequency at the 0.1 significance level.     

Variation in the Flare Frequency of Flare Stars. III. Flare Stars in the Orion Association

The possible variation of the flare frequency of flare stars in the Orion association is considered. It is shown that of the 23 chosen stars, each having exhibited four or more flares, a change in flare frequency at the 0.1 significance level can be suspected for 13.     

Flare star activity in the open cluster Alpha Persei

The results from a flare star investigation in the open cluster Alpha Persei are presented. Photographic flare star monitoring and CCD photometry of the discovered 4 new flare stars are made. The flare star activity phenomenon is restricted to the classical flare stars (UV Ceti type) as classified in the GCVS. The V/V‐I diagramme of the members of the cluster with the locations of the considered flare stars is given. Most of the flare stars are probable cluster members. The flare frequency determined from the Rozhen flare star monitoring is very low–one flare event occurs for 38.5 hours effective observing time. Comparison with the flare activity of the Pleiades is made because of the small difference in the age and distance of the clusters.     

疏散星团中的耀星及其演化学意义

耀星是红矮星早期演化的一个必经阶段，这个阶段的持续时间取决于恒星的质量。在年轻和比较年轻的疏散星闭中，都含有大量耀星，它们的光度分布是疏散星闭年龄的标志。在昴生闭中已发现大量耀星，对它们的自行，测光和分光资料进行深入的统计研究，对于解决疏散星闭及矮星起源和演化问题，有着极其重要的价值。     

Optical observations of flare stars in the galaxy

Observations of flare stars in the galaxy are considered. UV Ceti type stars in the solar vicinity and flare stars is star clusters and associations have almost the same properties. The differences between them are connected with the age. Flare stars are one of the richest populations in the galaxy. The evolutionary path for all flare stars is the same.Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 501–507, October–December, 1995.     

Flares on opposite sides of the star: Observational aspects

The problem of the flare taking place on opposite sides of a star is considered. Such a screened flare, diffused through the star's atmosphere (chromosphere), may also be registered. The theoretical light curve for diffused flare event is derived, which differs strongly from the usual flare light curves. The light curve of diffused flare is characterized first of all by its very slow rise of brightness. This result opens quite a new direction to understand the nature of the so-called slow flares, observed often among the UV Cet-type stars as well as flare stars in aggregates. All slow flares can be interpreted as quite ordinary flares of quite ordinary flare stars — taking place, however, on the opposite sides of the star. The results of interpretation of some slow flare events of YY Gem and three flare stars in Orion are presented. An attempt is made for the determination of actual amplitudes of screened flares taking place on the opposite sides of a star.     

Variation in the flare activity of the star UV Ceti

This is an analysis of the dependence of the flare activity of the well known flare star UV Ceti on the linear distance between the components of this binary system. It is shown that its flaring activity clearly depends on the mutual distance of the components, while this kind of variability is not seen in isolated flare stars.     

Flare stars and the fast electron hypothesis

An extensive analysis is made of the theory of flare stars based on the fast electron hypothesis, in the light of the latest observational evidence. It is shown that an adequate agreement of theory with the observations obtains regarding the internal regular features in the flare amplitude data inUBV rays, as well as the changes of the colour characteristics of stars during the flares; in the latter case the analysis is made not only in respect of the UV Cet-type stars, but flare stars as well, forming a part of the Orion association. Problems bearing on the negative flare and the screening effect are dealt with. New properties of the light curves of flares are revealed, based on the above theory.Particular emphasis is laid on the X-ray radiation from flare stars. It is shown that the observed spectrum of X-ray radiation of flare stars differs sharply from that of X-ray radiation both of the stellar corona and solar X-ray flares. At the same time, the observed X-ray spectrum of flares is in complete harmony with the previously calculated theoretical spectrum corresponding to nonthermal bremsstrahlung with the energy of monoenergetic fast electrons 1.5 MeV. The durations of X-ray flares should be essentially shorter than that of the optical flares. The very high momentary intensities of the X-ray brightness with the exceedingly small duration at the curve maximum is predicted. It is shown that the gamma-ray bursts recorded so far have no relation whatever to flare stars.     

On global and local magnetic fields of flare stars with YZ CMi and OT Ser as examples

Global magnetic fields of flare stars evolve very fast—at times of tens–hundreds of days. In our opinion, this is due to mutual addition of local magnetic fields generated by the differential rotation of these objects.With the example of two flare stars,OT Ser and YZCMi, we consider possiblemechanisms of generation and disspation of local and global magnetic fields and the mechanism of “magnetic deceleration” of these stars according to the scheme “differential rotation–generation of local magnetic fields–fluorescence of energy accumulated by local magnetic fields during flares.” We also estimated the rotation energy and global magnetic field for OT Ser and YZCMi. It is shown that even strong dissipation of the accumulated local magnetic energy in the flare on February 9, 2008 (UT 20:22:00) in YZCMi has not had any impact on the global magnetic field.     

Cyclic flaring activity of flare stars

Methods of detecting probable cycles in the flaring activity of flare stars and determining the cycle durations are examined. A new method of detecting a cycle of flaring activity and determining its duration is proposed assuming periodic flaring activity. This method is applied to two stars from the list of flare stars in the Pleiades cluster, Ton91 and Ton377. Variable flaring activity is found in both stars and the periods are estimated to be P=15.2 and 17.7 years for Ton91 and Ton377, respectively.     

Radio emission from flare stars

Observations of radio emission from flare stars are reviewed, including surveys of flare stars in the solar neighborhood and in stellar associations, studies of quiescent emission, and continuum and spectral studies of radio burst emission. The radio observations are placed in an observational context provided by soft X-ray, UV, and optical observations. It is stressed that, as is the case for the latter wavelength regimes, observations of rado bursts on flare stars are qualitatively similar to those on the Sun, albeit in a dramatically scaled-up fashion.     

Critical comments on G. A. Gurzadyan's papers on flare stars

Conclusions The observations of flares of UV Ceti stars give direct evidence for the existence in these eruptive processes of fast electrons.The photometric, colorimetric, and x-ray characteristics of the flares of the red dwarf stars which are regarded by Gurzadyan as observational confirmations of the fast-electron hypothesis are in reality not such confirmations.Independent data — colorimetric, infrared, and x-ray properties of the flares of UV Ceti stars — demonstrate the incorrectness of Gurzadyan's idea, according to which all manifestations of the activity of flare stars are due ultimately to only Compton radiation and nonthermal bremsstrahlung of fast electrons.Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 375–381, April–June, 1980.     

New estimates of the number of flare stars

New estimates are proposed for the number of flare stars. They are compared with Ambartsumian’s well-known estimate. Using the new estimates, it is found that flare stars of the same luminosity in the Orion association have the same average flare frequency. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 73–80, January-March. 1998.     

Chromospheres of flare stars

The present paper contains an attempt to formulate a theory, based on fast electrons hypothesis, of the chromospheres of flare stars. At the same time we shall undertake a survey of observations on the emission lines of flare stars and comparisons with the theory. The general discussion in the introduction concerning the civilian right of fast electron hypothesis is followed by sections in which the following problems are tackled: the anatomy of the light curve of the flare in UV Cet-type stars or its division into two components; the sources of radiation, ionizing hydrogen and other elements, and the estimation of their power in cold dwarf stars with emission lines; conditions for the excitation of emission lines in the chromospheres of those stars; the problem of duration of luminescence of flare stars in the emission lines (observations and theory); the electron temperature and electron concentration in the chromospheres of flare stars; the problem of the luminescence of emission lines in the quiescent star; the degree of ionization and the role of inelastic collisions of the electrons in the chromosphere of flare stars; the profiles of emission lines, their broadening and intensification during the flare; the dependence of the infensity of emission lines on the flare amplitude; the nature and peculiarities of two types of the Haro flares; the impact of radiation dilution and the spectral class of the star on the equivalent width of the emission lines; the possibility of exciting the forbidden lines; the problem of generation of the emission lines of neutral and ionized helium; the possibility of the Lyman-alpha emission in flare stars, the expected parameters of such emission — the radiation power, the equivalent width and profile of the Lyman-alpha line; the possibility of the presence of the strongest (after the -line) emission line — of doublet 2800 Mgii in the spectra of flare stars, the expected value of the intensity and equivalent width of that line.     

A new flare star member candidate in the Pleiades cluster

We present a new flare star, which was discovered during our survey on a selected field at the edge of the Pleiades cluster. The field was observed in the period 2007–2010 with three different CCD‐cameras at the University Observatory Jena with telescopes from 25 to 90 cm. The flare duration is almost one hour with an amplitude in the R‐band of about 1.08 mag. The location of the flare star in a color‐magnitude diagram is consistent with age and distance of the Pleiades. In the optical PSF of the flare star there are two 2MASS objects (unresolved in most images in the optical Jena PSF), so it is not yet known which one of them is responsible for this flare. The BVRIJHK colors yield spectral types of M1 and M2 with extinction being A_v = 0.231 ± 0.024 mag and A_v = 0.266 ± 0.020 for those two stars, consistent with the Pleiades cluster (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)