Magnetic activity of sunlike stars

Journal Article · Fri Aug 24 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.225.4664.793· OSTI ID:5988301

Vaughan, A H

Sunspots, flares, and the myriad time-varying events observable in the Sun, the only star whose surface can be examined in detail, are testimony that the Sun is a magnetically variable or active star. Its magnetic field, carried into interplanetary space by the solar wind, produces observable changes in Earth's magnetosphere and variations in the flux of galactic cosmic-ray particles incident upon Earth's upper atmosphere. Centuries of observation have enabled solar scientists to recognize that the Sun's magnetism exists and varies in a globally organized pattern that is somehow coupled to the Sun's rotation. Within the past decade O.C. Wilson demonstrated that analogs of solar activity exist and can be studied in many other dwarf stars. From the continuing study, knowledge of the precise rates of rotation of the stars under investigation is being gained for the first time. The results are expected to increase our understanding of the origin of solar activity and stellar activity in general.

• Research Organization: Perkin-Elmer Corp., Garden Grove, CA
• OSTI ID: 5988301
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 225:4664; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
CHROMOSPHERE
EMISSION SPECTRA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MASS
MOTION
ROTATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
SOLAR CYCLE
SPECTRA
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
SUN
VARIATIONS