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Radio outbursts in RS Canum Venaticorum stars - coronal heating and electron runaway

Journal Article · · Astrophys. J.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/163405· OSTI ID:5800381
Radio outbursts of RS CVn stars are sometimes thought of as analogs of flares in red dwarf stars. The possibility is examined that the outbursts are not due to flares, but rather to a highly efficient case of coronal heating: mechanical energy reaching the corona from the convection zone of an RS CVn star gives rise to induced electric fields which may be so large that electron runaway becomes possible. It is proposed that gyrosynchrotron emission from fast electrons which are produced by this process are the source of radio outbursts from RS CVn stars. 31 references.
Research Organization:
Franklin Institute, Newark, DE
OSTI ID:
5800381
Journal Information:
Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 295; ISSN ASJOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English