We have studied the initial phases of 65 optical flares on UV Cet type stars with a time resolution of 3x10–7 s. Ninety per cent of these flares have rapid brightenings shorter than 10 s and several are shorter than 1 s. We detected on UV Cet the shortest flare observed to date with a total duration of 1.7 s and a rise time of 0.3 s. The shortest flare rise times on the observed stars fit the predictions of the gas-dynamic flare model by Katsova et al. (1981) and Katsova and Livshits 1986).

We review the flaring activity of stars across the HR-diagram. Brightenings have been reported along the entire Main Sequence and in many stars off the Main Sequence. Some stars are decidedly young, others are in advanced stages of stellar evolution. Flares are common on stars with outer convection zones and outbursts have been reported also on other types of stars, although confirmations are needed for some of them.

Analyses of flare occurrence sometimes find flares to be randomly distributed in time, and sometimes indicate a tendency for flares to come in groups. Preferred active longitudes have been suggested. Recent solar results, where the occurrence rate for flares is found to exhibit a periodicity of 152 days, suggest that stellar flare data should be reanalyzed over long time baselines to see if the present confusing situation can be resolved.

The radiation from stellar flares is dominated by continuum emission and about equal amounts of energy have been recorded in the optical, UV, and X-ray regions of the spectrum. In solar flares strong continuum emission is rarely recorded and a large collection of bright emission lines takes prominence. Small flares occur more frequently than large ones and the latter have longer time-scales. Flare energies can exceed 1037 erg. The most productive flare stars are those where the convective envelopes occupy large volumes. Slow stellar rotation rates are believed to reduce the level when the star has been braked significantly from its young rotation rate.

According to one of the most popular classifications, solar flares may be assigned either to the category of small short-lived events, or to the category of large, long-duration two-ribbon (2-R) flares. Even if such a broad division oversimplifies the flare phenomenon, our knowledge of the characteristics of stellar flares is so poor, that it is worthwhile to investigate the possibility of adopting this classification scheme for stellar flares as well. In particular we will analyze Einstein observations of a long duration flare on EQ Peg to establish whether it might be considered as a stellar analogy of 2-R solar events. To this end we apply to EQ Peg data a reconnection model, developed originally for solar 2-R flares, and conclude that stellar observations are consistent with model predictions, although additional information is required to identify uniquely the physical parameters of the flare region. Application of the model to integrated observations of a 2-R solar flare, for which high spatial resolution data are also available, shows, however, that future integrated observations may allow us to solve the ambiguities of the model and use it as a diagnostic tool for a better understanding of stellar flares.

High time resolution monitoring of the UV Cet type flare stars has enabled as to detect flares with total duration of a few seconds and with energy output comparable to solar subflares. We find that the time scales of decay for such flares correspond to recombination times of optically thin gas or to cooling times of optically thick gas heated in flares. Therefore, faster flares cannot be detected individually but their accumulated effect may be one source of brightness fluctuations of the “quiet” star. The upper limit for the total power of such microflares does not exceed the time-averaged power of individually detected flares.

Due to the Sun's proximity flares can be investigated in the gamma-ray regime and flare generated particles can be measured in space and related to particular events. In this review paper we focus on the problem of particle acceleration by using as observational ingredients: the fluxes and spectra of particles inferred from gamma-ray measurements and observed in interplanetary space, the temporal characteristics of flares at high-energy X- and gamma-rays and the distribution of gamma-ray flares over the solar disc.

Photoelectric observations of flares on two low-active red dwarfs (Gliese 171.2A and CM Dra) are reported.

Solar flares are understood as a process of explosive liberation of magnetic energy, coming after a slow phase of energy build-up. The slow evolution of magnetic equilibria may end up with (a) the termination of an equilibrium sequence, or (b) an instability. The distinction between the two can be made by drawing schematic potential curves. Case (a) has been extensively studied in two-dimensional models. The appearance of multiple solutions, or disappearance of a solution takes place as the system evolves away from the current-free configuration. Case (b) can be discussed in terms of ideal MHD or resistive MHD instabilities. A possible route to explosive energy release is suggested by combining these two cases.

Approximately 10 very bright flares in RS CVn systems have been observed with the IUE. In several cases, high-resolution spectra of the Mg II k line profiles were obtained before, during, and after the flare. Such data permit us to measure the position and size of the flaring region, the amount of line broadening, and any systematic flow velocity. In two cases, several spectra were obtained during the flare decay, permitting us to study the change in these quantities during the flare decay.

Ultraviolet spectroscopic observations of the RS CVn star II Peg in February 1983 show evidence for flare activity in greatly enhanced chromospheric and transition region emission lines. The total radiative losses from the chromosphere and transition region (i.e. the temperature interval 4.0 ≤ log Te ≤ 5.4) during the flare is 3.1 1035 erg. Over the whole atmosphere (i.e. the temperature interval 4.0 ≤ log Te ≤ 8.0), we estimate total radiative losses of 2.4 1036 erg, (excluding hydrogen line radiation). At flare peak, the flare radiated 1.5 1032 erg s–1. Adopting a two-ribbon flare model, where the filament is located between the two stars of the system, we can have 2039(l/R⊙) erg of magnetic energy available, where l is the filament length and we have taken a magnetic field strength of 1000G. Therefore, only a small fraction of this magnetic energy need be converted into heating of the flare plasma.

We present X-ray observations of the 21 July, 1980 flare which was observed both with the Einstein Observatory Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) and the X-Ray Polychromator (XRP) and Gamma-Ray Spectrometer onboard the SMM satellite. The Einstein observations were obtained in scattered X-ray light, i.e., in X-rays scattered off the Earth's atmosphere. In this way it is possible to obtain spatially unresolved X-ray data of a solar flare with the same instrument that observed many X-ray flares on other stars. This paper juxtaposes the results and implications of the ‘stellar interpretation’ to those obtained from the far more detailed SMM observations. The result of this ‘calibration’ observation is that the basic properties of the flaring plasma can be reliably determined from the ‘stellar’ data, however, the basic physics issues can only be studied through models.

We have observed the white dwarf — K dwarf eclipsing binary system V471 Tauri with the VLA. We have detected in the radio flux an interesting dip centered near phase zero (the phase of white dwarf eclipse) and a 6 mJy flare shortly after mid—eclipse at phase 0.15. The best possible explanation for the dip is the self—eclipse of a large radio—emitting cloud anchored to a particular spot on the secondary, namely the sub—white dwarf point. The 6 cm flare observation and sudden variations seen in Hα suggest that this spot is an active flaring region.

The observational data permit us to establish clear statistical correlations between different parameters of stellar flare activity and the characteristics of quiet stars. These relations are:

1. (i) between energies and frequencies of flares on stars of different luminosities;

2. (ii) between total radiation energies of flares and quiet stars both in X-ray and Balmer emission lines;

3. (iii) between flare decay rates just after the maxima and flare luminosities at maxima.

This article focuses on two problems involved in the development of models of solar flares. The first concerns the mechanism responsible for eruptions, such as erupting filaments or coronal mass ejections, that are sometimes involved in the flare process. The concept of ‘loss of equilibrium’ is considered and it is argued that the concept typically arises in thought-experiments that do not represent acceptable physical behavior of the solar atmosphere. It is proposed instead that such eruptions are probably caused by an instability of a plasma configuration. The instability may be purely MHD, or it may combine both MHD and resistive processes. The second problem concerns the mechanism of energy release of the impulsive (or gradual) phase. It is proposed that this phase of flares may be due to current interruption, as was originally proposed by Alfvén and Carlqvist. However, in order for this process to be viable, it seems necessary to change one's ideas about the heating and structure of the corona in ways that are outlined briefly.

We have re-analyzed the X-ray flare on Algol which was observed with EXOSAT (White et al. (1986)). The common practice of estimating loop volume and length from the decay time of the flare is discussed extensively. We show that during the decay phase of the flare both scaling laws for coronal loops are valid. This implies a unique determination of loop volume and length and allows a check whether additional heating occurs in the decay phase of a flare.

An X-ray flare from the star π UMA has been observed by EXOSAT on January 31, 1984. The data were collected using the-Low Energy Experiment and the Medium Energy Experiment, sensitive to the spectral bands 0.04 - 2 Kev and 1-20 Kev (Landini et al. 1986).

The temperature and emission measure variations during the flare are deduced under the isothermal assumption. Using a parametrized profile of the differential emission measure, wich is controlled by the conductive flux via the temperature gradient, the comparison with the observed data gives some insight on a “mean loop” model and its power supply.

One has to distinguish between two kinds of the gradual phase of flares: (1) a gradual phase during which no energy is released so that we see only cooling after the impulsive phase (a confined flare), and (2) a gradual phase during which energy release continues (a dynamic flare).

The simplest case of (1) is a single-loop flare which might provide an excellent opportunity for the study of cooling processes in coronal loops. But most confined flares are far more complicated: they may consist of sets of unresolved elementary loops, of conglomerates of loops, or they form arcades the components of which may be excited sequentially. Accelerated particles as well as hot and cold plasma can be ejected from the flare site (coronal ‘tongues', flaring arches, sprays, bright and dark surges) and these éjecta may cool more slowly than the source flare itself.

However, the most important flares on the Sun are flares of type (2) in which a magnetic field opening is followed by subsequent reconnection of fieldlines that may continue for many hours after the impulsive phase. Therefore, the main attention in this review is paid to the gradual phase of this category oflong-decay flares. The following items are discussed in particular: The wide energy range of dynamic flares: from eruptions of quiescent filaments to most powerful cosmic-ray flares. Energy release at the reconnection site and modelling of the reconnection process. The ‘post-flare’ loops: evidence for reconnection; observations at different wavelengths; energy deposit in the chromosphere, chromospheric ablation, and velocity fields; loops in emission; shrinking loops; magnetic modelling. The gradual phase in X-rays and on radio waves. Post-flare X-ray arches: observations, interpretation, and modelling; relation to metric radio events and mass ejections, multiple-ribbon flares and anomalous events, hybrid events, possible relations between confined and dynamic flares.

Observations of regular and irregular polarimetric variability in late-type stars are reviewed, and the related physical and geometrical effects are discussed. There are indications that the irregular part of the variability could be caused by transient events, possibly associated with flares. Polarimetric observations during flares are reviewed, and preliminary results of new observations of a well-known flare star, YY Geminorum, are presented. The results show that the small flare in YY Gem did not cause any significant variations in linear polarization, while the binary eclipse evidently causes an enhancement in the polarization. The reasons for the difficulties in stellar flare polarimetry are discussed. Finally, future prospects for the observations of flaring stars and for the utilization of linear polarimetry as a complementary method to other techniques of surface imaging of stellar activity and flares are presented.

We report the serendipitous discovery by EXOSAT of a flaring X-ray source in the field of the Seyfert type I galaxy III ZW 2. We identify this source with the visual binary HD 560 (B9V + G5Ve) and argue that virtually all of the observed X-ray flux, including the flare, came from its late-type component (HD 560 B). Optical studies have lead to the identification of HD 560 B as a post-T Tauri star. Since these stars are difficult to detect by optical methods, X-ray observations may prove to be the best way to identify them.

Particle acceleration during solar flares is a complex process where the main ‘actors’ (Direct (D.C.) or turbulent electric fields) are hidden from us. It is easy to construct a successful particle accelertion model if we are allowed to impose on the flaring region arbitrary conditions (e.g., strength and scale length of the D.C. or turbulent electric fields), but then we have not solved the acceleration problem; we have simply re-defined it. We outline in this review three recent observations which indicate that the following physical processes may happen during solar flares : (1) Release of energy in a large number of microflares ; (2) short time-scales; (3) small length scales; and (4) coherent radiation and acceleration sources. We propose that these new findings force us to reformulate the acceleration process inside a flaring active region assuming that a large number of reconnection sites will burst almost simultaneously. All the well-known acceleration mechanisms (electric fields, turbulent fields, shock waves, etc.) reviewed briefly here, can be used in a statistical model where each particle is gaining energy through its interaction with many small reconnection sites.

On the basis of 11 years of UBV photometry the light and color variability of the long-period RS CVn binary HK Lac (KOIII) is discussed. From the U-B data, which reflect the chromospheric activity, a quasi-periodic variation with the cycle length of about 5.5 years is suspected. Less evidently, a 2.7 years long overall spot coverage cycle is seen from the V(max) data.

No cyclic variation is found from the B-V data representing the photospheric temperature conditions, although there is an indication that the star was the reddest around 1985, when the chromospheric activity was in maximum.

At that time, in late 1985, we observed the star on 6 nights in UBV color in order to detect short-term variability. Fluctuations up to 0.03 magn. on time scales of 20-30 minutes were likely present. The mplitude is the highest in U colour.