Flare-X-ray-observations-of-AB-Dor：evidence-for-Stellar-Coronal-Opacity.pdfVIP

Flare X-ray observations of AB Dor: evidence for Stellar Coronal Opacity 1 1 2 1 M. Matranga , M. Mathioudakis , H. R. M. Kay and F. P. Keenan ABSTRACT X-ray spectra of the late-type star AB Dor, obtained with the XMM-Newton satellite are analysed. AB Dor was particularly active during the observations. An emission measure reconstruction technique is employed to analyse flare and ˚ quiescent spectra, with emphasis on the Fe XVII 15 − 17 A wavelength region. ˚ ˚ The Fe XVII 16.78 A/15.01 A line ratio increases significantly in the hotter flare plasma. This change in the ratio is opposite to the theoretical predictions and is ˚ attributed to the scattering of 15.01 A line photons from the line-of-sight. The ˚ escape probability technique indicates an optical depth of ≈ 0.4 for the 15.01 A line. During the flare, the electron density is 4.4+2.7 ×1010 cm−3 and the fractional −1.6 Fe abundance is 0.5 ± 0.1 of the solar photospheric value (Grevesse et al. 1992). Using these parameters a path length of ≈ 8,000 km is derived. There is no evidence for opacity in the quiescent X-ray spectrum of the star. Subject headings: radiative transfer — stars: activity — stars: coronae — stars: individual (AB Doradus) — techniques: spectroscopic — X-rays: stars 1. Introduction Opacity in th