Andrea P. Buccino

Trumpeting M dwarfs with CONCH-SHELL: a catalogue of nearby cool host-stars for habitable exoplanets and life

We present an all-sky catalog of 2970 nearby (d . 50 pc), bright (J < 9) M- or late Ktype dwarf stars, 86% of which have been confirmed by spectroscopy. This catalog will be useful for searches for Earth-size and possibly Earth-like planets by future spacebased transit missions and ground-based infrared Doppler radial velocity surveys. Stars were selected from the SUPERBLINK proper motion catalog according to absolute magnitudes, spectra, or a combination of reduced proper motions and photometric colors. From our spectra we determined gravity-sensitive indices, and identified and removed 0.2% of these as interloping hotter or evolved stars. Thirteen percent of the stars exhibit Hα emission, an indication of stellar magnetic activity and possible youth. The mean metallicity is [Fe/H] = -0.07 with a standard deviation of 0.22 dex, similar to nearby solar-type stars. We determined stellar effective temperatures by least-squares fitting of spectra to model predictions calibrated by fits to stars with established bolometric temperatures, and estimated radii, luminosities, and masses using empirical relations. Six percent of stars with images from integral field spectra are resolved doubles. We inferred the planet population around M dwarfs using Kepler data and applied this to our catalog to predict detections by future exoplanet surveys.

The Muscles Treasury Survey. I. Motivation and Overview

Ground- and space-based planet searches employing radial velocity techniques and transit photometry have detected thousands of planet-hosting stars in the Milky Way. With so many planets discovered, the next step toward identifying potentially habitable planets is atmospheric characterization. While the Sun-Earth system provides a good framework for understanding the atmospheric chemistry of Earth-like planets around solar-type stars, the observational and theoretical constraints on the atmospheres of rocky planets in the habitable zones (HZs) around low-mass stars (K and M dwarfs) are relatively few. The chemistry of these atmospheres is controlled by the shape and absolute flux of the stellar spectral energy distribution (SED), however, flux distributions of relatively inactive low-mass stars are poorly understood at present. To address this issue, we have executed a panchromatic (X-ray to mid-IR) study of the SEDs of 11 nearby planet-hosting stars, the Measurements of the Ultraviolet Spectral Characteristics of Low-mass Exoplanetary Systems (MUSCLES) Treasury Survey. The MUSCLES program consists visible observations from Hubble and ground-based observatories. Infrared and astrophysically inaccessible wavelengths (EUV and Lyalpha) are reconstructed using stellar model spectra to fill in gaps in the observational data. In this overview and the companion papers describing the MUSCLES survey, we show that energetic radiation (X-ray and ultraviolet) is present from magnetically active stellar atmospheres at all times for stars as late as M6. The emission line luminosities of C IV and Mg II are strongly correlated with band-integrated luminosities and we present empirical relations that can be used to estimate broadband FUV and XUV (is equivalent to X-ray + EUV) fluxes from individual stellar emission line measurements. We find that while the slope of the SED, FUV/NUV, increases by approximately two orders of magnitude form early K to late M dwarfs (approximately equal 0.01-1), the absolute FUV and XUV flux levels at their corresponding HZ distances are constant to within factors of a few, spanning the range 10-70 erg per (sq cm) s in the HZ. Despite the lack of strong stellar activity indicators in their optical spectra, several of the M dwarfs in our sample show spectacular UV flare emission in their light curves. We present an example with flare/quiescent ultraviolet flux ratios of the order of 100:1 where the transition region energy output during the flare is comparable to the total quiescent luminosity of the star E(sub flare)(UV) approximately 0.3 L(sub *) delta (t) (delta t = 1 s). Finally, we interpret enhanced L(line)/L(sub Bol) ratios for C IV and N V as tentative observational evidence for the interaction of planets with large planetary mass-to-orbital distance ratios (M(sub plan)/A(sub plan)) with the transition regions of their host stars.

Ultraviolet radiation constraints around the circumstellar habitable zones

Ultraviolet radiation is known to inhibit photosynthesis, induce DNA destruction and cause damage to a wide variety of proteins and lipids. In particular, UV radiation between 200 and 300 nm becomes energetically very damaging to most of the terrestrial biological systems. On the other hand, UV radiation is usually considered one of the most important energy source on the primitive Earth for the synthesis of many biochemical compounds and, therefore, essential for several biogenesis processes. In this work, we use these properties of the UV radiation to define the boundaries of an ultraviolet habitable zone. We also analyze the evolution of the UV habitable zone during the main sequence stage of the star. We apply these criteria to study the UV habitable zone for those extrasolar planetary systems that were observed by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). We analyze the possibility that extrasolar planets and moons could be suitable for life, according to the UV constrains presented in this work and other accepted criteria of habitability (liquid water, orbital stability, etc.).

UV habitable zones around M stars

Abstract During the last decade there was a change in paradigm, which led to consider that terrestrial-type planets within liquid-water habitable zones (LW-HZ) around M stars can also be suitable places for the emergence and evolution of life. Since many dMe stars emit large amount of UV radiation during flares, in this work we analyze the UV constrains for living systems on Earth-like planets around dM stars. We apply our model of UV habitable zone (UV-HZ; Buccino, A.P., Lemarchand, G.A., Mauas, P.J.D., 2006. Icarus 183, 491–503) to the three planetary systems around dM stars (HIP 74995, HIP 109388 and HIP 113020) observed by IUE and to two M-flare stars (AD Leo and EV Lac). In particular, HIP 74995 hosts a terrestrial planet in the LW-HZ, which is the exoplanet that most resembles our own Earth. We show, in general, that during the quiescent state there would not be enough UV radiation within the LW-HZ to trigger the biogenic processes and that this energy could be provided by flares of moderate intensity, while strong flares do not necessarily rule-out the possibility of life-bearing planets.

Solar Forcing of the Stream Flow of a Continental Scale South American River

Solar forcing on climate has been reported in several studies although the evidence so far remains inconclusive. Here, we analyze the stream flow of one of the largest rivers in the world, the Paraná in southeastern South America. For the last century, we find a strong correlation with the sunspot number, in multidecadal time scales, and with larger solar activity corresponding to larger stream flow. The correlation coefficient is r=0.78, significant to a 99% level. In shorter time scales we find a strong correlation with El Niño. These results are a step toward flood prediction, which might have great social and economic impacts.

Long-term solar activity influences on South American rivers

River streamflows are excellent climatic indicators since they integrate precipitation over large areas. Here we follow up on our previous study of the influence of solar activity on the flow of the Parana River, in South America. We find that the unusual minimum of solar activity in recent years have a correlation on very low levels in the Paranas flow, and we report historical evidence of low water levels during the Little Ice Age. We also study data for the streamflow of three other rivers (Colorado, San Juan and Atuel), and snow levels in the Andes. We obtained that, after eliminating the secular trends and smoothing out the solar cycle, there is a strong positive correlation between the residuals of both the Sunspot Number and the streamflows, as we obtained for the Parana. Both results put together imply that higher solar activity corresponds to larger precipitation, both in summer and in wintertime, not only in the large basin of the Parana, but also in the Andean region north of the limit with Patagonia.

Mg II h + k emission lines as stellar activity indicators of main sequence F-K stars

Context. The largest dataset of stellar activity measurements available at present is the one obtained at the Mount Wilson Observatory, where high-precision Ca II H+K uxes have been measured from 1966 for about 2200 stars. Since the Mg II h and k lines at 2800 A are formed in a similar way to the Ca II H+K emission lines, they are also good indicators of chromospheric structure. The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) provides a large database of UV spectra in the band 1150-3350 A, from 1978 to 1995, which can also be used to study stellar activity. Aims. The main purpose of this study is to use the IUE spectra in the analysis of magnetic activity of main sequence F-K stars. Combining IUE observations of Mg II and optical spectroscopy of Ca II, the registry of activity of stars can be extended in time. Methods. We retrieved all the high-resolution spectra of F, G, and K main sequence stars observed by IUE (i.e. 1623 spectra of 259 F to K dwarf stars). We obtained the continuum surface ux near the Mg II h+k lines near 2800 A and the Mg II line-core surface ux from the IUE spectra. Results. We obtained a relation between the mean continuum ux near the Mg II lines with the colour B V of the star. For a set of 117 nearly simultaneous observations of Mg II and Ca II uxes of 21 F5 to K3 main sequence stars, we obtained a colour dependent relation between the Mount Wilson Ca II S-index and the Mg II emission line-core ux. As an application of this calibration, we computed the Mount Wilson index for all the dF to dK stars which have high resolution IUE spectra. For some of the most frequently observed main sequence stars, we analysed the Mount Wilson index S from the IUE spectra, together with the ones derived from visible spectra. We conrm the cyclic chromospheric activity of Eri (HD 22049) and Hydri (HD 2151), and we nd a magnetic cycle in Cen B (HD 128621)

The rotation-lithium depletion correlation in the β Pictoris association and the LDB age determination

Context. Evidence exists in the 125-Myr Pleiades cluster, and more recently in the 5-Myr NGC 2264 cluster, to show that rotation plays a key role in lithium (Li) depletion processes among low-mass stars. Fast rotators appear to be less Li-depleted than equal-mass slow rotators. Aims. We intend to explore the existence of a Li depletion-rotation connection among the β Pictoris members at an age of about 24 Myr, and to use this correlation either to confirm or to improve age estimates based on the lithium depletion boundary (LDB) modeling. Methods. We photometrically monitored all the known members of the β Pictoris association with at least one lithium equivalent width (Li EW) measurement from the literature. Results. We measured the rotation periods of 30 members for the first time and retrieved the rotation periods for another 36 members from the literature, building a catalogue of 66 members with a measured rotation period and Li EW. Conclusions. We find that in the 0.3 M M ⊙ range, there is a strong correlation between rotation and Li EW. For higher mass stars, no significant correlation is found. For very low-mass stars in the Li depletion onset, at about 0.1 M ⊙ , there are too few data to infer a significant correlation. The observed Li EWs are compared with those predicted by the Dartmouth stellar evolutionary models that incorporate the effects of magnetic fields. After decorrelating the Li EW from the rotation period, we find that the hot side of the LDB is well fitted by Li EW values that correspond to an age of 25 ± 3 Myr, which is in good agreement with independent estimates from the literature.

HD 80606: searching for the chemical signature of planet formation

Context. Binary systems with similar components are ideal laboratories that allow several physical processes to be tested, such as the possible chemical pattern imprinted by the planet formation process. Aims. We explore the probable chemical signature of planet formation in the remarkable binary system HD 80606−HD 80607. The star HD 80606 hosts a giant planet with ∼4 MJup detected by both transit and radial velocity techniques, which is one of the most eccentric planets detected to date. We study condensation temperature Tc trends of volatile and refractory element abundances to determine whether there is a depletion of refractories, which could be related to the terrestrial planet formation. Methods. We carried out a high-precision abundance determination in both components of the binary system via a line-by-line, strictly differential approach. First, we used the Sun as a reference and then we used HD 80606. The stellar parameters Teff ,l ogg ,[ Fe/H] and vturb were determined by imposing differential ionization and excitation equilibrium of Fe I and Fe II lines, with an updated version of the program FUNDPAR, together with plane-parallel local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) ATLAS9 model atmospheres and the MOOG code. Then, we derived detailed abundances of 24 different species with equivalent widths and spectral synthesis with the program MOOG. The chemical patterns were compared with the solar-twins Tc trends of Melendez et al. (2009, AJ, 704, L66) and with a sample of solar-analogue stars with [Fe/H] ∼ +0.2 dex from Neves et al. (2009, A&A, 497, 563). The Tc trends were also compared mutually between both stars of the binary system. Results. From the study of Tc trends, we concluded that the stars HD 80606 and HD 80607 do not seem to be depleted in refractory elements, which is different for the case of the Sun. Then, following the interpretation of Melendez et al. (2009), the terrestrial planet formation would have been less efficient in the components of this binary system than in the Sun. The lack of a trend in refractory elements with Tc between both stars implies that the presence of a giant planet do not neccesarily imprint a chemical signature in their host stars, similar to the recent result of Liu et al. (2014, MNRAS, 442, L51). This is also in agreement with Melendez et al. (2009), who suggest that the presence of close-in giant planets might prevent the formation of terrestrial planets. Finally, we speculate about a possible, ejected or non-detected, planet around the star HD 80607.

LONG-TERM CHROMOSPHERIC ACTIVITY IN SOUTHERN M DWARFS: Gl 229 A AND Gl 752 A

Several late-type stars present activity cycles similar to that of the Sun. However, these cycles have been mostly studied in F to K stars. Due to their small intrinsic brightness, M dwarfs are not usually the targets of long-term observational studies of stellar activity, and their long-term variability is generally not known. In this work, we study the long-term activity of two M dwarf stars: Gl 229 A (M1/2) and Gl 752 A (M2.5). We employ medium-resolution echelle spectra obtained at the 2.15 m telescope at the Argentinian observatory CASLEO between 2000 and 2010, and photometric observations obtained from the ASAS database. We analyze Ca II K line-core fluxes and the mean V magnitude with the Lomb-Scargle periodogram, and we obtain possible activity cycles of ~4 yr for Gl 229 A and ~7 yr for Gl 752 A.