Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Stephen C. Marsden

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen C. Marsden.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

The magnetic and spin-down properties of slowly rotating fully convective M dwarfs

The evolution of the magnetism, winds and rotation of low-mass stars are all linked. One of the most common ways to probe the magnetic properties of low-mass stars is with the Zeeman-Doppler imaging (ZDI) technique. The magnetic properties of partially convective stars has been relatively well explored with the ZDI technique, but the same is not true of fully convective stars. In this work, we analyse a sample of stars that have been mapped with ZDI. Notably, this sample contains a number of slowly rotating fully convective M dwarfs whose magnetic fields were recently reconstructed with ZDI. We find that the dipolar, quadrupolar and octupolar field strengths of the slowly rotating fully convective stars do not follow the same Rossby number scaling in the unsaturated regime as partially convective stars. Based on these field strengths, we demonstrate that previous estimates of spin-down torques for slowly rotating fully convective stars could have been underestimated by an order of magnitude or more. Additionally, we also find that fully convective and partially convective stars fall into distinct sequences when comparing their poloidal and toroidal magnetic energies.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2023

Asteroseismology and Spectropolarimetry of the Exoplanet Host Star $λ$ Serpentis

The bright star $λ$ Ser hosts a hot Neptune with a minimum mass of 13.6 $M_\oplus$ and a 15.5 day orbit. It also appears to be a solar analog, with a mean rotation period of 25.8 days and surface differential rotation very similar to the Sun. We aim to characterize the fundamental properties of this system, and to constrain the evolutionary pathway that led to its present configuration. We detect solar-like oscillations in time series photometry from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and we derive precise asteroseismic properties from detailed modeling. We obtain new spectropolarimetric data, and we use them to reconstruct the large-scale magnetic field morphology. We reanalyze the complete time series of chromospheric activity measurements from the Mount Wilson Observatory, and we present new X-ray and ultraviolet observations from the Chandra and Hubble space telescopes. Finally, we use the updated observational constraints to assess the rotational history of the star and to estimate the wind braking torque. We conclude that the remaining uncertainty on stellar age currently prevents an unambiguous interpretation of the properties of $λ$ Ser, and that the rate of angular momentum loss appears to be higher than for other stars with similar Rossby number. Future asteroseismic observations may help to improve the precision of the stellar age.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2023

The winds of young Solar-type stars in the Pleiades, AB Doradus, Columba and $β$ Pictoris

Solar-type stars, which shed angular momentum via magnetised stellar winds, enter the main sequence with a wide range of rotational periods $P_\text{rot}$. This initially wide range of rotational periods contracts and has mostly vanished by a stellar age $t\sim0.6$ Gyr, after which Solar-type stars spin according to the Skumanich relation $P_\text{rot}\propto\sqrt t$. Magnetohydrodynamic stellar wind models can improve our understanding of this convergence of rotation periods. We present wind models of fifteen young Solar-type stars aged from 24 Myr to 0.13 Gyr. With our previous wind models of stars aged 0.26 Gyr and 0.6 Gyr we obtain thirty consistent three-dimensional wind models of stars mapped with Zeeman-Doppler imaging - the largest such set to date. The models provide good cover of the pre-Skumanich phase of stellar spin-down in terms of rotation, magnetic field, and age. We find that the mass loss rate $\dot M\proptoΦ^{0.9\pm0.1}$ with a residual spread of 150% and that the wind angular momentum loss rate $\dot J\propto{}P_\text{rot}^{-1} Φ^{1.3\pm0.2}$ with a residual spread of 500% where $Φ$ is the unsigned surface magnetic flux. When comparing different magnetic field scalings for each single star we find a gradual reduction in the power-law exponent with increasing magnetic field strength.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2023

Constraints on Magnetic Braking from the G8 Dwarf Stars 61 UMa and $τ$ Cet

During the first half of their main-sequence lifetimes, stars rapidly lose angular momentum to their magnetized winds, a process known as magnetic braking. Recent observations suggest a substantial decrease in the magnetic braking efficiency when stars reach a critical value of the Rossby number, the stellar rotation period normalized by the convective overturn timescale. Cooler stars have deeper convection zones with longer overturn times, reaching this critical Rossby number at slower rotation rates. The nature and timing of the transition to weakened magnetic braking has previously been constrained by several solar analogs and two slightly hotter stars. In this Letter, we derive the first direct constraints from stars cooler than the Sun. We present new spectropolarimetry of the old G8 dwarf $τ$ Cet from the Large Binocular Telescope, and we reanalyze a published Zeeman Doppler image of the younger G8 star 61 UMa, yielding the large-scale magnetic field strengths and morphologies. We estimate mass-loss rates using archival X-ray observations and inferences from Ly$α$ measurements, and we adopt other stellar properties from asteroseismology and spectral energy distribution fitting. The resulting calculations of the wind braking torque demonstrate that the rate of angular momentum loss drops by a factor of 300 between the ages of these two stars (1.4-9 Gyr), well above theoretical expectations. We summarize the available data to help constrain the value of the critical Rossby number, and we identify a new signature of the long-period detection edge in recent measurements from the Kepler mission.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2023

TOI-4562 b: A highly eccentric temperate Jupiter analog orbiting a young field star

We report the discovery of TOI-4562 b (TIC-349576261), a Jovian planet orbiting a young F7V-type star, younger than the Praesepe/Hyades clusters (< $700$ Myr). This planet stands out because of its unusually long orbital period for transiting planets with known masses ($P_{\mathrm{orb}}$ = $225.11781^{+0.00025}_{-0.00022}$ days), and because it has a substantial eccentricity ($e$ = $0.76^{+0.02}_{-0.02}$). The location of TOI-4562 near the southern continuous viewing zone of TESS allowed observations throughout 25 sectors, enabling an unambiguous period measurement from TESS alone. Alongside the four available TESS transits, we performed follow-up photometry using the South African Astronomical Observatory node of the Las Cumbres Observatory, and spectroscopy with the CHIRON spectrograph on the 1.5 m SMARTS telescope. We measure a radius of $1.118_{+0.013}^{-0.014}$ $R_{\mathrm{J}}$ and a mass of $2.30^{+0.48}_{-0.47}$ $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ for TOI-4562 b. The radius of the planet is consistent with contraction models describing the early evolution of the size of giant planets. We detect tentative transit timing variations at the $\sim$ 20 min level from five transit events, favouring the presence of a companion that could explain the dynamical history of this system if confirmed by future follow-up observations. With its current orbital configuration, tidal timescales are too long for TOI-4562 b to become a hot-Jupiter via high eccentricity migration, though it is not excluded that interactions with the possible companion could modify TOI-4562 b eccentricity and trigger circularization. The characterisation of more such young systems is essential to set constraints on models describing giant planet evolution.

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2021

Topological changes in the magnetic field of LQ Hya during an activity minimum

Previous studies have related surface temperature maps, obtained with the Doppler imaging (DI) technique, of LQ Hya with long-term photometry. We compare surface magnetic field maps, obtained with the Zeeman Doppler imaging (ZDI) technique, with contemporaneous photometry, with the aim of quantifying the star's magnetic cycle characteristics. We inverted Stokes IV spectropolarimetry into magnetic field and surface brightness maps using a tomographic inversion code that models high signal-to-noise ratio mean line profiles produced by the least squares deconvolution (LSD) technique. The magnetic field and surface brightness maps reveal similar patterns to previous DI and ZDI studies: non-axisymmetric polar magnetic field structure, void of fields at mid-latitudes, and a complex structure in the equatorial regions. There is a weak but clear tendency of the polar structures to be linked with strong radial field and the equatorial ones with the azimuthal. We find a polarity reversal in the radial field between 2016 and 2017 coincident with an activity minimum seen in the long-term photometry. The inverted field strengths cannot easily be related with the observed spottedness, but we find that they are partially connected with the retrieved field complexity. Comparing to global magnetoconvection models for rapidly rotating young Suns, this field topology and dominance of the poloidal field component could be explained by a turbulent dynamo, where differential rotation does not play a major role (so called alpha^2 Omega or alpha^2 dynamos), and axi- and non-axisymmetric modes are excited simultaneously. The complex equatorial magnetic field structure could arise from the twisted (helical) wreaths often seen in these simulations, while the polar feature would be connected to the mostly poloidal non-axisymmetric component having a smooth spatial structure.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2021

The winds of young Solar-type stars in Coma Berenices and Hercules-Lyra

We present wind models of ten young Solar-type stars in the Hercules-Lyra association and the Coma Berenices cluster aged around 0.26 Gyr and 0.58 Gyr respectively. Combined with five previously modelled stars in the Hyades cluster, aged 0.63 Gyr, we obtain a large atlas of fifteen observationally based wind models. We find varied geometries, multi-armed structures in the equatorial plane, and a greater spread in quantities such as the angular momentum loss. In our models we infer variation of a factor of ~6 in wind angular momentum loss $\dot J$ and a factor of ~2 in wind mass loss $\dot M$ based on magnetic field geometry differences when adjusting for the unsigned surface magnetic flux. We observe a large variation factor of ~4 in wind pressure for an Earth-like planet; we attribute this to variations in the 'magnetic inclination' of the magnetic dipole axis with respect to the stellar axis of rotation. Within our models, we observe a tight correlation between unsigned open magnetic flux and angular momentum loss. To account for possible underreporting of the observed magnetic field strength we investigate a second series of wind models where the magnetic field has been scaled by a factor of 5. This gives $\dot M \propto B^{0.4}$ and $\dot J \propto B^{1.0}$ as a result of pure magnetic scaling.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2021

The obliquity of HIP 67522 b: a 17 Myr old transiting hot Jupiter-sized planet

HIP 67522 b is a 17 Myr old, close-in ($P_{orb} = 6.96$ d), Jupiter-sized ($R = 10\,R_{\oplus}$) transiting planet orbiting a Sun like star in the Sco-Cen OB association. We present our measurement of the system's projected orbital obliquity via two spectroscopic transit observations using the CHIRON spectroscopic facility. We present a global model that accounts for large surface brightness features typical of such young stars during spectroscopic transit observations. With a value of $|λ| = 5.8^{+2.8\,\circ}_{-5.7}$, it is unlikely that this well-aligned system is the result of a high eccentricity driven migration history. By being the youngest planet with a known obliquity, HIP 67522 b holds a special place in contributing to our understanding of giant planet formation and evolution. Our analysis shows the feasibility of such measurements for young and very active stars.

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2021

The winds of young Solar-type stars in the Hyades

Stellar winds govern the spin-down of Solar-type stars as they age, and play an important role in determining planetary habitability, as powerful winds can lead to atmospheric erosion. We calculate three-dimensional stellar wind models for five young Solar-type stars in the Hyades cluster, using TOUPIES survey stellar magnetograms and state-of-the-art Alfvén wave driven wind modelling. The stars have the same 0.6-Gyr age and similar fundamental parameters, and we account for the uncertainty in and underestimation of absolute field strength inherent in Zeeman-Doppler imaging by adopting both unscaled and scaled (by a factor of five) field strengths. For the unscaled fields, the resulting stellar wind mass loss is 2-4 times greater and the angular momentum loss 2-10 times greater than for the Sun today, with the scaled results correspondingly greater. We compare our results with a range published of wind models and for the Alfvén wave driven modelling see evidence of mass loss saturation at about $10 \dot M_\odot$.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2021

TOI-257b (HD 19916b): A Warm sub-Saturn Orbiting an Evolved F-type Star

We report the discovery of a warm sub-Saturn, TOI-257b (HD 19916b), based on data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The transit signal was detected by TESS and confirmed to be of planetary origin based on radial velocity observations. An analysis of the TESS photometry, the Minerva-Australis, FEROS, and HARPS radial velocities, and the asteroseismic data of the stellar oscillations reveals that TOI-257b has a mass of $M_P=0.138\pm0.023$\,$\rm{M_J}$ ($43.9\pm7.3$\,$M_{\rm \oplus}$), a radius of $R_P=0.639\pm0.013$\,$\rm{R_J}$ ($7.16\pm0.15$\,$R_{\rm \oplus}$), bulk density of $0.65^{+0.12}_{-0.11}$ (cgs), and period $18.38818^{+0.00085}_{-0.00084}$\,$\rm{days}$. TOI-257b orbits a bright ($\mathrm{V}=7.612$\,mag) somewhat evolved late F-type star with $M_*=1.390\pm0.046$\,$\rm{M_{\odot}}$, $R_*=1.888\pm0.033$\,$\rm{R_{\odot}}$, $T_{\rm eff}=6075\pm90$\,$\rm{K}$, and $v\sin{i}=11.3\pm0.5$\,km\,s$^{-1}$. Additionally, we find hints for a second non-transiting sub-Saturn mass planet on a $\sim71$\,day orbit using the radial velocity data. This system joins the ranks of a small number of exoplanet host stars ($\sim100$) that have been characterized with asteroseismology. Warm sub-Saturns are rare in the known sample of exoplanets, and thus the discovery of TOI-257b is important in the context of future work studying the formation and migration history of similar planetary systems.

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2019

Do non-dipolar magnetic fields contribute to spin-down torques?

Main sequence low-mass stars are known to spin-down as a consequence of their magnetised stellar winds. However, estimating the precise rate of this spin-down is an open problem. The mass-loss rate, angular momentum-loss rate and the magnetic field properties of low-mass stars are fundamentally linked making this a challenging task. Of particular interest is the stellar magnetic field geometry. In this work, we consider whether non-dipolar field modes contribute significantly to the spin-down of low-mass stars. We do this using a sample of stars that have all been previously mapped with Zeeman-Doppler imaging. For a given star, as long as its mass-loss rate is below some critical mass-loss rate, only the dipolar fields contribute to its spin-down torque. However, if it has a larger mass-loss rate, higher order modes need to be considered. For each star, we calculate this critical mass-loss rate, which is a simple function of the field geometry. Additionally, we use two methods of estimating mass-loss rates for our sample of stars. In the majority of cases, we find that the estimated mass-loss rates do not exceed the critical mass-loss rate and hence, the dipolar magnetic field alone is sufficient to determine the spin-down torque. However, we find some evidence that, at large Rossby numbers, non-dipolar modes may start to contribute.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2019

Observation of a possible superflare on Proxima Centauri

We report the observation on UT 2017.07.01 of an unusually powerful flare detected in near-infrared continuum photometry of Proxima Centauri. During a campaign monitoring the star for possible exoplanet transits, we identified an increase in Sloan i' flux leading to an observed peak at BJD 2457935.996 that was at least 10\% over pre-flare flux in this band. It was followed by a 2-component rapid decline in the first 100 seconds that became a slower exponential decay with time constant of 1350 seconds. A smaller flare event 1300 seconds after the first added an incremental peak flux increase of 1% of pre-flare flux. Since the onset of the flare was not fully time-resolved at a cadence of 62 seconds, its actual peak value is unknown but greater than the time-average over a single exposure of 20 seconds. The i' band is representative of broad optical and near-IR continuum flux over which the integrated energy of the flare is 100 times the stellar luminosity. This meets the criteria that established the concept of superflares on similar stars. The resulting implied ultraviolet flux and space weather could have had an extreme effect on the atmospheres of planets within the star's otherwise-habitable zone.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2019

Estimating magnetic filling factors from Zeeman-Doppler magnetograms

Low-mass stars are known to have magnetic fields that are believed to be of dynamo origin. Two complementary techniques are principally used to characterise them. Zeeman-Doppler imaging (ZDI) can determine the geometry of the large-scale magnetic field while Zeeman broadening can assess the total unsigned flux including that associated with small-scale structures such as spots. In this work, we study a sample of stars that have been previously mapped with ZDI. We show that the average unsigned magnetic flux follows an activity-rotation relation separating into saturated and unsaturated regimes. We also compare the average photospheric magnetic flux recovered by ZDI, $\langle B_V\rangle$, with that recovered by Zeeman broadening studies, $\langle B_I\rangle$. In line with previous studies, $\langle B_V\rangle$ ranges from a few % to $\sim$20% of $\langle B_I\rangle$. We show that a power law relationship between $\langle B_V\rangle$ and $\langle B_I\rangle$ exists and that ZDI recovers a larger fraction of the magnetic flux in more active stars. Using this relation, we improve on previous attempts to estimate filling factors, i.e. the fraction of the stellar surface covered with magnetic field, for stars mapped only with ZDI. Our estimated filling factors follow the well-known activity-rotation relation which is in agreement with filling factors obtained directly from Zeeman broadening studies. We discuss the possible implications of these results for flux tube expansion above the stellar surface and stellar wind models.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2019

The Rotationally Modulated Polarization of $ξ$ Boo A

We have observed the active star $ξ$ Boo A (HD 131156A) with high precision broadband linear polarimetry contemporaneously with circular spectropolarimetry. We find both signals are modulated by the 6.43 day rotation period of $ξ$ Boo A. The signals from the two techniques are 0.25 out of phase, consistent with the broadband linear polarization resulting from differential saturation of spectral lines in the global transverse magnetic field. The mean magnitude of the linear polarization signal is ~4 ppm/G but its structure is complex and the amplitude of the variations suppressed relative to the longitudinal magnetic field. The result has important implications for current attempts to detect polarized light from hot Jupiters orbiting active stars in the combined light of the star and planet. In such work stellar activity will manifest as noise, both on the time scale of stellar rotation, and on longer time scales - where changes in activity level will manifest as a baseline shift between observing runs.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2018

The magnetic fields of intermediate-mass T Tauri stars : I. Magnetic detections and fundamental stellar parameters

Context. The origin of the fossil magnetic fields detected in 5 to 10% of intermediate-mass main sequence stars is still highly debated. Aims. We want to bring observational constraints to a large population of intermediate-mass pre-main sequence (PMS) stars in order to test the theory that convective-dynamo fields generated during the PMS phases of stellar evolution can occasionally relax into fossil fields on the main sequence. Methods. Using distance estimations, photometric measurements, and spectropolarimetric data from HARPSpol and ESPaDOnS of 38 intermediate-mass PMS stars, we determined fundamental stellar parameters (Teff, L and v sin i) and measured surface magnetic field characteristics (including detection limits for non-detections, and longitudinal fields and basic topologies for positive detections). Using PMS evolutionary models, we determined the mass, radius, and internal structure of these stars. We compared different PMS models to check that our determinations were not model-dependant. We then compared the magnetic characteristics of our sample accounting for their stellar parameters and internal structures. Results. We detect magnetic fields in about half of our sample. About 90% of the magnetic stars have outer convective envelopes larger than ~25% of the stellar radii, and heavier than ~2% of the stellar mass. Going to higher mass, we find that the magnetic incidence in intermediate-mass stars drops very quickly, within a time-scale of the order of few times 0.1 Myr. Finally, we propose that intermediate-mass T Tauri stars with large convective envelopes, close to the fully convective limit, have complex fields and that their dipole component strengths may decrease as the sizes of their convective envelopes decrease, similar to lower-mass T Tauri stars.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2017

The Dynamical History Of 2060 Chiron And Its Proposed Ring System

The surprising discovery of a ring system around the Centaur 10199 Chariklo in 2013 led to a reanalysis of archival stellar occultation data for the Centaur 2060 Chiron by Ortiz et al. One possible interpretation of that data is that a system of rings exists around Chiron. In this work, we study the dynamical history of the proposed Chiron ring system by integrating nearly 36,000 clones of the Centaur backward in time for 100 Myr under the influence of the Sun and the four giant planets. The severity of all close encounters between the clones and planets while the clones are in the Centaur region is recorded, along with the mean time between close encounters. We find that severe and extreme close encounters are very rare, making it possible that the Chiron ring system has remained intact since its injection into the Centaur region, which we find likely occurred within the past 8.5 Myr. Our simulations yield a backward dynamical half-life for Chiron of 0.7 Myr. The dynamical classes of a sample of clones are found. It is found that, on average, the Centaur lifetimes of resonance hopping clones are twice those of random-walk clones because of resonance sticking in mean motion resonances. In addition, we present MEGNO and chaotic lifetime maps of the region bound by 13 au $\le a \le$14 au and e $\le$0.5. We confirm that the current mean orbital parameters of Chiron are located in a highly chaotic region of a-e phase space.

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2017

The Dynamical History of Chariklo and its Rings

Chariklo is the only small Solar system body confirmed to have rings. Given the instability of its orbit, the presence of rings is surprising, and their origin remains poorly understood. In this work, we study the dynamical history of the Chariklo system by integrating almost 36,000 Chariklo clones backwards in time for one Gyr under the influence of the Sun and the four giant planets. By recording all close encounters between the clones and planets, we investigate the likelihood that Chariklo's rings could have survived since its capture to the Centaur population. Our results reveal that Chariklo's orbit occupies a region of stable chaos, resulting in its orbit being marginally more stable than those of the other Centaurs. Despite this, we find that it was most likely captured to the Centaur population within the last 20 Myr, and that its orbital evolution has been continually punctuated by regular close encounters with the giant planets. The great majority (> 99%) of those encounters within one Hill radius of the planet have only a small effect on the rings. We conclude that close encounters with giant planets have not had a significant effect on the ring structure. Encounters within the Roche limit of the giant planets are rare, making ring creation through tidal disruption unlikely.

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2017

The intrinsic and interstellar broadband linear polarization of nearby FGK dwarfs

We present linear polarization measurements of nearby FGK dwarfs to parts-per-million (ppm) precision. Before making any allowance for interstellar polarization, we found that the active stars within the sample have a mean polarization of 28.5 +/- 2.2 ppm while the inactive stars have a mean of 9.6 +/- 1.5 ppm. Amongst inactive stars we initially found no difference between debris disk host stars (9.1 +/- 2.5 ppm) and the other FGK dwarfs (9.9 +/- 1.9 ppm). We develop a model for the magnitude and direction of interstellar polarization for nearby stars. When we correct the observations for the estimated interstellar polarization we obtain 23.0 +/-2.2 ppm for the active stars, 7.8 +/- 2.9 ppm for the inactive debris disk host stars and 2.9 +/- 1.9 ppm for the other inactive stars. The data indicates that whilst some debris disk host stars are intrinsically polarized most inactive FGK dwarfs have negligible intrinsic polarization, but that active dwarfs have intrinsic polarization at levels ranging up to ~45 ppm. We briefly consider a number of mechanisms, and suggest differential saturation of spectral lines in the presence of magnetic fields is the best able to explain the polarization seen in active dwarfs. The results have implications for current attempts to detect polarized reflected light from hot Jupiters by looking at the combined light of the star and planet.

astro-ph.SR↗