Observational evidence for enhanced magnetic activity of superflare stars

Christoffer Karoff (), Mads Faurschou Knudsen, Peter De Cat, Alfio Bonanno, Alexandra Fogtmann-Schulz, Jianning Fu, Antonio Frasca, Fadil Inceoglu, Jesper Olsen, Yong Zhang, Yonghui Hou, Yuefei Wang, Jianrong Shi and Wei Zhang
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Christoffer Karoff: Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2
Mads Faurschou Knudsen: Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2
Peter De Cat: Royal Observatory of Belgium, Ringlaan 3
Alfio Bonanno: INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania
Alexandra Fogtmann-Schulz: Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2
Jianning Fu: Beijing Normal University
Antonio Frasca: INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania
Fadil Inceoglu: Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2
Jesper Olsen: AMS, 14C Dating Centre, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120
Yong Zhang: Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yonghui Hou: Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuefei Wang: Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jianrong Shi: Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wei Zhang: Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Superflares are large explosive events on stellar surfaces one to six orders-of-magnitude larger than the largest flares observed on the Sun throughout the space age. Due to the huge amount of energy released in these superflares, it has been speculated if the underlying mechanism is the same as for solar flares, which are caused by magnetic reconnection in the solar corona. Here, we analyse observations made with the LAMOST telescope of 5,648 solar-like stars, including 48 superflare stars. These observations show that superflare stars are generally characterized by larger chromospheric emissions than other stars, including the Sun. However, superflare stars with activity levels lower than, or comparable to, the Sun do exist, suggesting that solar flares and superflares most likely share the same origin. The very large ensemble of solar-like stars included in this study enables detailed and robust estimates of the relation between chromospheric activity and the occurrence of superflares.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11058

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