arXiv subjects

J. H. M. M. Schmitt

Publications and source records attributed to J. H. M. M. Schmitt.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

DN Tauri - coronal activity and accretion in a young low-mass CTTS

We present a deep XMM-Newton observation of DN Tau, a young M0-type accreting CTTS and investigate its X-ray properties and X-ray generating mechanisms. Specifically we examine the presence of X-ray emission from magnetic activity and accretion shocks and compare our new X-ray data with UV data taken simultaneously and with X-ray/UV observations performed before. We find that the X-ray emission from DN Tau is dominated by coronal plasma generated via magnetic activity, but also clearly detect a contribution of the accretion shocks to the cool plasma component at about 2 MK as consistently inferred from density and temperature analysis. Typical phenomena of active coronae like flaring, the presence of very hot plasma at 30 MK and an abundance pattern showing the inverse FIP effect are seen on DN Tau. Strong variations in the emission measure of the cooler plasma components between the 2005 and 2010 XMM data point to accretion related changes. The UV light curve taken simultaneously is in general not related to the X-ray brightness, but exhibits clear counterparts during the observed X-ray flares. The X-ray properties of DN Tau are similar to those of more massive CTTS, but its low mass and large radius shift the accretion shocks to lower temperatures, reducing their imprint in the X-ray regime.

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arXiv2013

X-ray activity cycle on the active ultra-fast rotator AB Dor A? Implication of correlated coronal and photometric variability

Although chromospheric activity cycles have been studied in a larger number of late-type stars for quite some time, very little is known about coronal activity-cycles in other stars and their similarities or dissimilarities with the solar activity cycle. While it is usually assumed that cyclic activity is present only in stars of low to moderate activity, we investigate whether the ultra-fast rotator AB Dor, a K dwarf exhibiting signs of substantial magnetic activity in essentially all wavelength bands, exhibits a X-ray activity cycle in analogy to its photospheric activity cycle of about 17 years and possible correlations between these bands. We analysed the combined optical photometric data of AB Dor A, which span ~35 years. Additionally, we used ROSAT and XMM-Newton X-ray observations of AB Dor A to study the long-term evolution of magnetic activity in this active K dwarf over nearly three decades and searched for X-ray activity cycles and related photometric brightness changes. AB Dor A exhibits photometric brightness variations ranging between 6.75 < Vmag < 7.15 while the X-ray luminosities range between 29.8 < log LX [erg/s] < 30.2 in the 0.3-2.5 keV. As a very active star, AB Dor A shows frequent X-ray flaring, but, in the long XMM-Newton observations a kind of basal state is attained very often. This basal state probably varies with the photospheric activity-cycle of AB Dor A which has a period of ~17 years, but, the X-ray variability amounts at most to a factor of ~2, which is, much lower than the typical cycle amplitudes found on the Sun.

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arXiv2013

A multi-wavelength view of AB Dor's outer atmosphere - Simultaneous X-ray and optical spectroscopy at high cadence

We study the chromosphere and corona of the ultra-fast rotator AB Dor A at high temporal and spectral resolution using simultaneous observations with XMM-Newton in the X-rays, VLT/UVES in the optical, and the ATCA in the radio. Our optical spectra have a resolving power of ~50 000 with a time cadence of ~1 min. Our observations continuously cover more than one rotational period and include both quiescent periods and three flaring events of different strengths. From the X-ray observations we investigated the variations in coronal temperature, emission measure, densities, and abundance. We interpreted our data in terms of a loop model. From the optical data we characterise the flaring chromospheric material using numerous emission lines that appear in the course of the flares. A detailed analysis of the line shapes and line centres allowed us to infer physical characteristics of the flaring chromosphere and to coarsely localise the flare event on the star. We specifically used the optical high-cadence spectra to demonstrate that both, turbulent and Stark broadening are present during the first ten minutes of the first flare. Also, in the first few minutes of this flare, we find short-lived (one to several minutes) emission subcomponents in the Hα and Ca ii K lines, which we interpret as flare-connected shocks owing to their high intrinsic velocities. Combining the space-based data with the results of our optical spectroscopy, we derive flare-filling factors. Finally, comparing X-ray, optical broadband, and line emission, we find a correlation for two of the three flaring events, while there is no clear correlation for one event. Also, we do not find any correlation of the radio data to any other observed data.

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arXiv2013

Qatar-1: indications for possible transit timing variations

Variations in the timing of transiting exoplanets provide a powerful tool detecting additional planets in the system. Thus, the aim of this paper is to discuss the plausibility of transit timing variations on the Qatar-1 system by means of primary transit light curves analysis. Furthermore, we provide an interpretation of the timing variation. We observed Qatar-1 between March 2011 and October 2012 using the 1.2 m OLT telescope in Germany and the 0.6 m PTST telescope in Spain. We present 26 primary transits of the hot Jupiter Qatar-1b. In total, our light curves cover a baseline of 18 months. We report on indications for possible long-term transit timing variations (TTVs). Assuming that these TTVs are true, we present two different scenarios that could explain them. Our reported $\sim$ 190 days TTV signal can be reproduced by either a weak perturber in resonance with Qatar-1b, or by a massive body in the brown dwarf regime. More observations and radial velocity monitoring are required to better constrain the perturber's characteristics. We also refine the ephemeris of Qatar-1b, which we find to be \mbox{$T_0 = 2456157.42204 \pm 0.0001$ \bjdtdb} and \mbox{$P = 1.4200246 \pm 0.0000007$ days}, and improve the system orbital parameters.

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arXiv2013

HST FUV imaging of DG Tau: Fluorescent molecular hydrogen emission from the wide angle outflow

One of the best-studied jets from all young stellar objects is the jet of DG Tau, which we imaged in the FUV with HST for the first time. These high spatial resolution images were obtained with long-pass filters and allow us to construct images tracing mainly molecular hydrogen and C IV emission. We find that the H2 emission appears as a limb-brightened cone with additional emission close to the jet axis. The length of the rims is about 0.3 arcsec or 42 AU (proj.) before their brightness strongly drops, and the opening angle is about 90 deg. Comparing our FUV data with near-IR data we find that the fluorescent H2 emission likely traces the outer, cooler part of the disk wind while an origin of the H2 emission in the surface layers (atmosphere) of the (flared) disk is unlikely. Furthermore, the spatial shape of the H2 emission shows little variation over six years which suggests that the outer part of the disk wind is rather stable and probably not associated with the formation of individual knots. The C IV image shows that the emission is concentrated towards the jet axis. We find no indications for additional C IV emission at larger distances, which strengthens the association with the X-ray emission observed to originate within the DG Tau jet.

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arXiv2013

Transit observations of the Hot Jupiter HD 189733b at X-ray wavelengths

We present new X-ray observations obtained with Chandra ACIS-S of the HD 189733 system, consisting of a K-type star orbited by a transiting Hot Jupiter and an M-type stellar companion. We report a detection of the planetary transit in soft X-rays with a significantly larger transit depth than observed in the optical. The X-ray data favor a transit depth of 6-8%, versus a broadband optical transit depth of 2.41%. While we are able to exclude several possible stellar origins for this deep transit, additional observations will be necessary to fully exclude the possibility that coronal inhomogeneities influence the result. From the available data, we interpret the deep X-ray transit to be caused by a thin outer planetary atmosphere which is transparent at optical wavelengths, but dense enough to be opaque to X-rays. The X-ray radius appears to be larger than the radius observed at far-UV wavelengths, most likely due to high temperatures in the outer atmosphere at which hydrogen is mostly ionized. We furthermore detect the stellar companion HD 189733B in X-rays for the first time with an X-ray luminosity of log LX = 26.67 erg/s. We show that the magnetic activity level of the companion is at odds with the activity level observed for the planet-hosting primary. The discrepancy may be caused by tidal interaction between the Hot Jupiter and its host star.

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arXiv2013

A magnetic cycle of tau Bootis? The coronal and chromospheric view

Tau Bootis is a late F-type main sequence star orbited by a Hot Jupiter. During the last years spectropolarimetric observations led to the hypothesis that this star may host a global magnetic field that switches its polarity once per year, indicating a very short activity cycle of only one year duration. In our ongoing observational campaign, we have collected several X-ray observations with XMM-Newton and optical spectra with TRES/FLWO in Arizona to characterize tau Boo's corona and chromosphere over the course of the supposed one-year cycle. Contrary to the spectropolarimetric reconstructions, our observations do not show indications for a short activity cycle.

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arXiv2013

Star-planet interactions and selection effects from planet detection methods

Planets may have effects on their host stars by tidal or magnetic interaction. Such star-planet interactions are thought to enhance the activity level of the host star. However, stellar activity also affects the sensitivity of planet detection methods. Samples of planet-hosting stars which are investigated for such star-planet interactions are therefore subject to strong selection effects which need to be taken into account.

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arXiv2012

HST FUV C IV observations of the hot DG Tauri jet

Protostellar jets are tightly connected to the accretion process and regulate the angular momentum balance of accreting star-disk systems. The DG Tau jet is one of the best-studied protostellar jets and contains plasma with temperatures ranging over three orders of magnitude within the innermost 50 AU of the jet. We present new Hubble Space Telescope (HST) far ultraviolet (FUV) long-slit spectra spatially resolving the C IV emission (T~1e5 K) from the jet for the first time, and quasi-simultaneous HST observations of optical forbidden emission lines ([O I], [N II], [S II] and [O III]) and fluorescent H2 lines. The C IV emission peaks at 42 AU from the stellar position and has a FWHM of 52 AU along the jet. Its deprojected velocity of around 200 km/s decreases monotonically away from the driving source. In addition, we compare our HST data with the X-ray emission from the DG Tau jet. We investigate the requirements to explain the data by an initially hot jet compared to local heating. Both scenarios indicate a mass loss by the T~1e5 K jet of ~1e-9 Msun/year, i.e., between the values for the lower temperature jet (T~1e4 K) and the hotter X-ray emitting part (T>1e6 K). However, a simple initially hot wind requires a large launching region (~1 AU), and we therefore favor local heating.

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arXiv2012

The evolution of the X-ray emission of HH 2 - Investigating heating and cooling processes

Young stellar objects often drive powerful bipolar outflows which evolve on time scales of a few years. An increasing number of these outflows has been detected in X-rays implying the existence of million degree plasma almost co-spatial with the lower temperature gas observed in the optical and near-IR. The details of the heating and cooling processes of the X-ray emitting part of these so-called Herbig-Haro objects are still ambiguous, e.g., whether the cooling is dominated by expansion, radiation or thermal conduction. We present a second epoch Chandra observation of the first X-ray detected Herbig-Haro object (HH 2) and derive the proper-motion of the X-ray emitting plasma and its cooling history. We argue that the most likely explanation for the constancy of the X-ray luminosity, the alignment with the optical emission and the proper-motion is that the cooling is dominated by radiative losses leading to cooling times exceeding a decade. We explain that a strong shock caused by fast material ramming into slower gas in front of it about ten years ago can explain the X-ray emission while being compatible with the available multi-wavelength data of HH 2.

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arXiv2012

Coronal activity cycles in nearby G and K stars - XMM-Newton monitoring of 61 Cygni and Alpha Centauri

We use X-ray observations of the nearby binaries 61 Cyg A/B (K5V and K7V) and Alpha Cen A/B (G2V and K1V) to study the long-term evolution of magnetic activity in weakly to moderately active G + K dwarfs over nearly a decade. Specifically we search for X-ray activity cycles and related coronal changes and compare them to the solar behavior. For 61 Cyg A we find a regular coronal activity cycle analog to its 7.3 yr chromospheric cycle. The X-ray brightness variations are with a factor of three significantly lower than on the Sun, yet the changes of coronal properties resemble the solar behavior with larger variations occurring in the respective hotter plasma components. 61 Cyg B does not show a clear cyclic coronal trend so far, but the X-ray data matches the more irregular chromospheric cycle. Both Alpha Cen stars exhibit significant long-term X-ray variability. Alpha Cen A shows indications for cyclic variability of an order of magnitude with a period of about 12-15 years; the Alpha Cen B data suggests an X-ray cycle with an amplitude of about six to eight and a period of 8-9 years. The sample stars exhibit X-ray luminosities ranging between Lx < 1x10^26 - 3x10^27 erg s^-1 in the 0.2-2.0 keV band and have coronae dominated by cool plasma with variable average temperatures of around 1.0-2.5 MK. We find that coronal activity cycles are apparently a common phenomenon in older, slowly rotating G and K stars. The spectral changes of the coronal X-ray emission over the cycles are solar-like in all studied targets.

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arXiv2012

A consistent analysis of three years of ground- and space-based photometry of TrES-2

The G0V dwarf TrES-2A, which is transited by a hot Jupiter, is one of the main short-cadence targets of the Kepler telescope and, therefore, among the photometrically best-studied planetary systems known today. Given the near-grazing geometry of the planetary orbit, TrES-2 offers an outstanding opportunity to search for changes in its orbital geometry. Our study focuses on the secular change in orbital inclination reported in previous studies. We present a joint analysis of the first four quarters of Kepler photometry together with the publicly available ground-based data obtained since the discovery of TrES-2b in 2006. We use a common approach based on the latest information regarding the visual companion of TrES-2A and stellar limb darkening to further refine the orbital parameters. We find that the Kepler observations rule out a secular inclination change of previously claimed order as well as variations of the transit timing, however, they also show slight indication for further variability in the inclination which remains marginally significant.

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arXiv2012

The high-energy environment in the super-earth system CoRoT-7

High-energy irradiation of exoplanets has been identified to be a key influence on the stability of these planets' atmospheres. So far, irradiation-driven mass-loss has been observed only in two Hot Jupiters, and the observational data remain even more sparse in the super-earth regime. We present an investigation of the high-energy emission in the CoRoT-7 system, which hosts the first known transiting super-earth. To characterize the high-energy XUV radiation field into which the rocky planets CoRoT-7b and CoRoT-7c are immersed, we analyzed a 25 ks XMM-Newton observation of the host star. Our analysis yields the first clear (3.5 sigma) X-ray detection of CoRoT-7. We determine a coronal temperature of ca. 3 MK and an X-ray luminosity of 3*10^28 erg/s. The level of XUV irradiation on CoRoT-7b amounts to ca. 37000 erg/cm^2/s. Current theories for planetary evaporation can only provide an order-of-magnitude estimate for the planetary mass loss; assuming that CoRoT-7b has formed as a rocky planet, we estimate that CoRoT-7b evaporates at a rate of about 1.3*10^11 g/s and has lost ca. 4-10 earth masses in total.

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arXiv2012

Soft coronal X-rays from β Pictoris

A type stars are expected to be X-ray dark, yet weak emission has been detected from several objects in this class. We present new Chandra/HRC-I observations of the A5 V star β Pictoris. It is clearly detected with a flux of 9+-2 10^{-4} counts/s. In comparison with previous data this constrains the emission mechanism and we find that the most likely explanation is an optically thin, collisionally dominated, thermal emission component with a temperature around 1.1 MK. We interpret this component as a very cool and dim corona, with \log L_X/L_{bol}=-8.2 (0.2-2.0 keV). Thus, it seems that β Pictoris shares more characteristics with cool stars than previously thought.

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arXiv2012

Basal Chromospheric Flux and Maunder Minimum-type Stars: The quiet-Sun Chromosphere as a Universal Phenomenon

Aims: We demonstrate the universal character of the quiet-Sun chromosphere among inactive stars (solar-type and giants). By assessing the main physical processes, we shed new light on some common observational phenomena. Methods: We discuss measurements of the solar Mt. Wilson S-index, obtained by the Hamburg Robotic Telescope around the extreme minimum year 2009, and compare the established chromospheric basal Ca II K line flux to the Mt. Wilson S-index data of inactive ("flat activity") stars, including giants. Results: During the unusually deep and extended activity minimum of 2009, the Sun reached S-index values considerably lower than in any of its previously observed minima. In several brief periods, the Sun coincided exactly with the S-indices of inactive ("flat", presumed Maunder Minimum-type) solar analogues of the Mt. Wilson sample; at the same time, the solar visible surface was also free of any plages or remaining weak activity regions. The corresponding minimum Ca II K flux of the quiet Sun and of the presumed Maunder Minimum-type stars in the Mt. Wilson sample are found to be identical to the corresponding Ca II K chromospheric basal flux limit. Conclusions: We conclude that the quiet-Sun chromosphere is a universal phenomenon among inactive stars. Its mixed-polarity magnetic field, generated by a local, "fast" turbulent dynamo finally provides a natural explanation for the minimal soft X-ray emission observed for inactive stars. Given such a local dynamo also works for giant chromospheres, albeit on larger length scales, i.e., l ~ R/g, with R and g as stellar radius and surface gravity, respectively, the existence of giant spicular phenomena and the guidance of mechanical energy toward the acceleration zone of cool stellar winds along flux-tubes have now become traceable.

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arXiv2011

Estimating transiting exoplanet masses from precise optical photometry

We present a theoretical analysis of the optical light curves (LCs) for short-period high-mass transiting extrasolar planet systems. Our method considers the primary transit, the secondary eclipse, and the overall phase shape of the LC between the occultations. Phase variations arise from (i) reflected and thermally emitted light by the planet, (ii) the ellipsoidal shape of the star due to the gravitational pull of the planet, and (iii) the Doppler shift of the stellar light as the star orbits the center of mass of the system. Our full model of the out-of-eclipse variations contains information about the planetary mass, orbital eccentricity, the orientation of periastron and the planet's albedo. For a range of hypothetical systems we demonstrate that the ellipsoidal variations (ii.) can be large enough to be distinguished from the remaining components and that this effect can be used to constrain the planet's mass. To detect the ellipsoidal variations, the LC requires a minimum precision of 10-4, which coincides with the precision of the Kepler mission. As a test of our approach, we consider the Kepler LC of the transiting object HAT-P-7. We are able to estimate the mass of the companion, and confirm its planetary nature solely from the LC data. Future space missions, such as PLATO and the James Webb Space Telescope with even higher photometric precision, will be able to reduce the errors in all parameters. Detailed modeling of any out-of-eclipse variations seen in new systems will be a useful diagnostic tool prior to the requisite ground based radial velocity follow-up.

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arXiv2011

The ultracool dwarf DENIS-P J104814.7-395606. Chromospheres and coronae at the low-mass end of the main-sequence

We have obtained an XMM-Newton observation and a broad-band spectrum from the ultraviolet to the near infrared with X-Shooter for one of the nearest M9 dwarfs, DENIS-P J1048-3956 (4pc). We integrate these data by a compilation of activity parameters for ultracool dwarfs from the literature with the aim to advance our understanding of these objects by comparing them to early-M type dwarf stars and the Sun. Our deep XMM-Newton observation has led to the first X-ray detection of DENIS-P J1048-3956 (log Lx = 25.1) as well as the first measurement of its V band brightness (V = 17.35mag). Flux-flux relations between X-ray and chromospheric activity indicators are here for the first time extended into the regime of the ultracool dwarfs. The approximate agreement of DENIS-P J1048-3956 and other ultracool dwarfs with flux-flux relations for early-M dwarfs suggests that the same heating mechanisms work in the atmospheres of ultracool dwarfs, albeit weaker as judged from their lower fluxes. The observed Balmer decrements of DENIS-P J1048-3956 are compatible with optically thick plasma in LTE at low, nearly photospheric temperature or optically thin LTE plasma at 20000K. Describing the decrements with CaseB recombination requires different emitting regions for Halpha and the higher Balmer lines. The high observed Halpha/Hbeta flux ratio is also poorly fitted by the optically thin models. We derive a similarly high value for the Halpha/Hbeta ratio of vB10 and LHS2065 and conclude that this may be a characteristic of ultracool dwarfs. We add DENIS-P J1048-3956 to the list of ultracool dwarfs detected in both the radio and the X-ray band. The Benz-Guedel relation between radio and X-ray luminosity of late-type stars is well-known to be violated by ultracool dwarfs. We speculate on the presence of two types of ultracool dwarfs with distinct radio and X-ray behavior.

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arXiv2011

Multi-wavelength observations of Proxima Centauri

We report simultaneous observations of the nearby flare star Proxima Centauri with VLT/UVES and XMM-Newton over three nights in March 2009. Our optical and X-ray observations cover the star's quiescent state, as well as its flaring activity and allow us to probe the stellar atmospheric conditions from the photosphere into the chromosphere, and then the corona during its different activity stages. Using the X-ray data, we investigate variations in coronal densities and abundances and infer loop properties for an intermediate-sized flare. The optical data are used to investigate the magnetic field and its possible variability, to construct an emission line list for the chromosphere, and use certain emission lines to construct physical models of Proxima Centauri's chromosphere. We report the discovery of a weak optical forbidden Fe xiii line at 3388 AA during the more active states of Proxima Centauri. For the intermediate flare, we find two secondary flare events that may originate in neighbouring loops, and discuss the line asymmetries observed during this flare in H i, He i, and Ca ii lines. The high time-resolution in the H alpha line highlights strong temporal variations in the observed line asymmetries, which re-appear during a secondary flare event. We also present theoretical modelling with the stellar atmosphere code PHOENIX to construct flaring chromospheric models.

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