JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
  • About K
  • Academics
  • Admission
  • Alumni Relations
  • Giving to K
  • News & Events
  • Student Life
  • HORNET HIVE
  • ATHLETICS
  • SITEMAP
  • WEBMAIL
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   CACHE Homepage
    • Academic Departments, Programs, and SIPs
    • Physics
    • Physics Senior Integrated Projects
    • View Item
    •   CACHE Homepage
    • Academic Departments, Programs, and SIPs
    • Physics
    • Physics Senior Integrated Projects
    • View Item

    Study of a Non-Solar Star Flare

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Searchable PDF / Kalamazoo College Only (1.375Mb)
    Date
    1996
    Author
    Halderson, Eve
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Violent eruptions on the surfaces of stars, flares are among the most energetic stellar phenomena. They can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, and can emit radiation from long-wavelength radio waves to gamma rays. Streams of high-energy particles, some with velocities as great as one-third the speed of light, also result. Most stars appear to flare at least to some degree. Flares on our own sun, for example, are notorious for interfering with our radio signals. Because of the sun's proximity, it is relatively easy to get data on solar flares. But what about studying flares on other stars? It turns out that the best flares are observed on the M dwarfs-small, cool, reddish stars on the lower end of the main sequence. Because they lend themselves so well to flare observation, such stars are often referred to simply as "flare stars." For one thing, the faintness o fM dwarfs makes the brightening due to a flare readily detectable. It would be hard to see flares at interstellar distances on another moderately bright G-type star like the sun. On an M dwarf: however, a flare with the energy of a large solar flare could cause a twofold increase in brightness. Additionally, certain structural characteristics of M dwarfs may promote especially intense flare activity. After obtaining some background information on stellar structure and activity, we will investigate these characteristics by contrasting M dwarfs with the sun, a star about which we know much more. The remainder of this paper will present data from a recent flare on AD Leo, an M dwarf star, and discuss plans for future investigation.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10920/23295
    Collections
    • Physics Senior Integrated Projects [335]

    Browse

    All of CACHECommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Login

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2023  DuraSpace
    DSpace Express is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV
    Logo

    Kalamazoo College
    1200 Academy Street
    Kalamazoo Michigan 49006-3295
    USA
    Info 269-337-7000
    Admission 1-800-253-3602

    About K
    Academics
    Admission
    Alumni Relations
    Giving to K
    News & Events
    Student Life
    Sitemap
    Map & Directions
    Contacts
    Directories
    Nondiscrimination Policy
    Consumer Information
    Official disclaimer
    Search this site


    Academic Calendars
    Apply
    Bookstore
    Crisis Response
    Employment
    Library
    Registrar
    DSpace Express is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV