We present estimates of cool-star X-ray flare rates determined from the XMM-Tycho survey (Pye et al. 2015, A&A, 581, A28), and compare them with previously published values for the Sun and for other stellar EUV and white-light samples. We demonstrate the importance of applying appropriate corrections, especially in regard to the total, effective size of the stellar sample. Our results are broadly consistent with rates reported in the literature for Kepler white-light flares from solar-type stars, and with extrapolations of solar flare rates, indicating the potential of stellar X-ray flare observations to address issues such as ‘space weather’ in exoplanetary systems and our own solar system.

We carried out spectroscopic observations with Subaru/HDS of 50 solar-type superflare stars found from Kepler data. More than half (34 stars) of the target stars show no evidence of the binary system, and we confirmed atmospheric parameters of these stars are roughly in the range of solar-type stars.

We then conducted the detailed analyses for these 34 stars. First, the value of the “v sin i” (projected rotational velocity) measured from spectroscopic results is consistent with the rotational velocity estimated from the brightness variation. Second, there is a correlation between the amplitude of the brightness variation and the intensity of Ca II IR triplet line. All the targets expected to have large starspots because of their large amplitude of the brightness variation show high chromospheric activities compared with the Sun. These results support that the brightness variation of superflare stars is explained by the rotation of a star with large starspots.

We searched for superflares on solar-type stars using the Kepler short-cadence (1-min sampling) data in order to detect superflares with short duration. We found 187 superflares on 23 solar-type stars whose bolometric energy ranges from the order of 1032 erg to 1036 erg. Using these new data combined with the results from the data with 30-min sampling, we found the occurrence frequency (dN/dE) of superflares as a function of flare energy (E) shows the power-law distribution (dN/dE ∝ E−α) with α=1.5 for 1033 < E < 1036 erg. The upper limit of energy released by superflares is basically comparable to a fraction of the magnetic energy stored near starspots which is estimated from the amplitude of brightness variations. We also found that the duration of superflares (τ) increases with the flare energy (E) as τ ∝ E0.39±0.03. This can be explained if we assume the time-scale of flares is determined by the Alfvén time.

Stellar flares are known to originate from magnetic reconnection in the atmospheres of late–type stars or through radiatively driven wind instabilities in early–type stars. Situated right between these two groups, the A–type stars are not expected to support either of the two mechanisms. However, recent studies report flare features in the Kepler light curves of 32 A–type stars, contradicting theory. We investigate the stars reported in literature, setting strong constraints on the detection criteria. Although significantly fewer, we conclude that flare-like features are present. To determine the origin we obtained high-resolution spectra from the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) for the ten brightest, flaring A-type stars for 3-4 epochs. Here we present the preliminary results of these spectroscopic observations, with respect to spectral classification and binarity.

We report on our search for L dwarf flares using NASA's Kepler mission. Spectroscopically confirmedflares were detected with the original Kepler mission from an L1 dwarf stars. We discuss the physicalcharacteristics of these white light flares and compare them to M dwarf flares. For “habitable zone” planets, the apparent flare brightnesses would be comparable to the most powerful M dwarf flares. Weare monitoring more L dwarfs with the Kepler K2 mission. We discussthe prospect for more detections during the remainder of the K2 mission.

The strong similarities between the flares observed on the Sun and in low mass stars has raised question regarding dynamo in these stars. Using the Sun as a prototype, one may be able to address this. In this paper, we present an analysis of 30 intense X-ray flares observed from AB Dor. These flares detected in XMM-Newton data show a rapid rise (500-3000 s) and a slow decay (1000-6000 s). Our studies suggest that the scaling law between the flare peak emission measure and the flare peak temperature for all the flares observed on AB Dor is very similar to the relationship followed by solar flares. Furthermore, we obtain the frequency distribution of flare energies which is a crucial diagnostic to calculate the overall energy residing in a flare. Our results of this study indicate that the large flare (1033 ≤ E ≤ 1034 erg) may not contribute to the heating of the corona.

We present an analysis of a sample of flares on “quiescent” (i.e. non-flare) M and K stars using temporally resolved UV spectroscopy from the growing body of MUSCLES Treasury Survey data. Specifically, our analysis quantified the response of the far-UV C II, Si III, Si IV, and N V emission lines and the far-UV continuum during the flares. Using these tracers, we examined one representative event on GJ 832. In concordance with flares recorded on the Sun and AD Leo, the MUSCLES flares are well fit by a power law relationship of similar slope in frequency versus energy. Flares can strip atmospheric mass from orbiting planets, adversely affecting their long-term habitability. To gauge the amplitude of this effect, we computed an energy-balance upper-limit on the amount of atmosphere a large flare might remove from an orbiting Earth due purely to elevated EUV flux and found this limit to be modest relative to Earth's atmospheric mass.

We review nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) modeling of magnetic fields in active regions. The NLFFF model (in which the electric current density is parallel to the magnetic field) is often adopted to describe the coronal magnetic field, and numerical solutions to the model are constructed based on photospheric vector magnetogram boundary data. Comparative tests of NLFFF codes on sets of boundary data have revealed significant problems, in particular associated with the inconsistency of the model and the data. Nevertheless NLFFF modeling is often applied, in particular to flare-productive active regions. We examine the results, and discuss their reliability.

The spectro-polarimeter in the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) is one of the powerful instruments for the most accurate measurements of vector magnetic fields on the solar surface. The magnetic field configuration and possible candidates for flare trigger are briefly discussed with some SOT observations of solar flare events, which include X5.4/X1.3 flares on 7 March 2012, X1.2 flare on 7 January 2014 and two M-class flares on 2 February 2014. Especially, using an unique set of the Hinode and SDO data for the X5.4/X1.3 flares on 7 March 2012, we briefly reviewed remarkable properties observed in the spatial distribution of the photospheric magnetic flux, chromospheric flare ribbons, and the 3D coronal magnetic field structure inferred by non-linear force-free field modeling with the Hinode photospheric magnetic field data.

Abundant observations in recent years show that the flares are more complex than the 2D standard flare model presents. This proposes a challenge to the 2D flare model and 3D flare model has been developed. We report the complex evolution of flare ribbons and a flux rope in a C8.9 flare event. The two ribbons slipped in opposite directions along the neutral line and the eastern ribbon seemed a hook-like structure. The flare loops were crossed each other, composing a “bi-fan” system. The slipping magnetic reconnection is involved in the flare and leads to slipping motion of flare ribbons and complex evolution of flare loops. Overlying the flare loops, a large-scale flux rope was erupted and meanwhile the eastern end of the flux rope changed with time and slipped along the hook-like ribbon. The fine structures of the flux rope delineated a “triangle-flag” surface, which may imply one-half of the coronal quasi-separatrix layers that surrounds a flux rope. We suggest that the heating process of slipping magnetic reconnection during the flare caused the apparent motion of the flux rope ends.

Using the Solar Dynamics Observatory observations, we study the evolution of an emerging active region (EAR) and its reconnection with the quiet Sun. The EAR continuously interacts with the surrounding quiet region, and dark ribbons at the boundary of the EAR and the quiet Sun are observed. The extreme-ultraviolet observations show that the regions swept by the dark ribbons are brightened and the temperature increases. These results reveal that there exists an uninterrupted magnetic reconnection between the EAR and the quiet region and the released energy heats the corona of the quiet Sun. The dark ribbons are suggested to correspond to the interface of the reconnected fields and the undisturbed ones. The dark ribbon propagates outward, and this phenomenon is considered as a dark wave.

High-cadence spectroscopy of solar and stellar coherent radio bursts is a powerful diagnostic tool to study coronal conditions during magnetic reconnection in flares and to detect coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We present results from wide-bandwidth VLA observations of nearby active M dwarfs, including some observations with simultaneous VLBA imaging. We also discuss the Starburst program, which will make wide-bandwidth radio spectroscopic observations of nearby active flare stars for 20+ hours a day for multiple years, coming online in spring 2016 at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. This program should vastly increase the diversity of observed stellar radio bursts and our understanding of their origins, and offers the potential to detect a population of CME-associated radio bursts.

Flares we observe on stars in white light, UV or soft X-rays are probably harbingers of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). If we use the Sun as a guide, large stellar flares will dissipate two orders of magnitude less X-ray radiative energy than the kinetic energy in the associated CME. Since coronal emission on active stars appears to be dominated by flare activity, CMEs pose a quandary for understanding the fraction of their energy budget stars can spend on magnetic activity. One answer is magnetic suppression of CMEs, in which the strong large-scale fields of active stars entrap and prevent CMEs unless their free energy exceeds a critical value. The CME-less flaring active region NOAA 2192 presents a possible solar analogue of this. Monster CMEs will still exist, and have the potential to ravage planetary atmospheres.

Slow magnetoacoustic waves were first detected in hot (>6 MK) flare loops by the SOHO/SUMER spectrometer as Doppler shift oscillations in Fe xix and Fe xxi lines. Recently, such longitudinal waves have been found by SDO/AIA in the 94 and 131 Å channels. Wang et al. (2015) reported the first AIA event revealing signatures in agreement with a fundamental standing slow-mode wave, and found quantitative evidence for thermal conduction suppression from the temperature and density perturbations in the hot loop plasma of ≳ 9 MK. The present study extends the work of Wang et al. (2015) by using an alternative approach. We determine the polytropic index directly based on the polytropic assumption instead of invoking the linear approximation. The same results are obtained as in the linear approximation, indicating that the nonlinearity effect is negligible. We find that the flare loop cools slower (by a factor of 2–4) than expected from the classical Spitzer conductive cooling, approximately consistent with the result of conduction suppression obtained from the wave analysis. The modified Spitzer cooling timescales based on the nonlocal conduction approximation are consistent with the observed, suggesting that nonlocal conduction may account for the observed conduction suppression in this event. In addition, the conduction suppression mechanism predicts that larger flares may tend to be hotter than expected by the EM-T relation derived by Shibata & Yokoyama (2002).

Coronal mass ejections are the most spectacular form of solar activity and they play a key role in driving space weather at the Earth. These eruptions are associated with active regions and occur throughout an active region's entire lifetime. All coronal mass ejection models invoke the presence of a twisted magnetic field configuration known as a magnetic flux rope either before or after eruption onset. The observational identification of magnetic flux ropes in the solar atmosphere using remote sensing data represents a challenging task, but theoretical models have led to the understanding that there are signatures that reveal their presence. The range of coronal mass ejection models are helping build a more complete picture of both the trigger and drivers of these eruptions.

The presence of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) in the sheaths of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) has been proposed and observed by several authors in the literature. In the present work, we assume their existence and propose a method to constrain the local properties, like the CME magnetic field intensity for the development of KHI. We study a CME in the initiation phase interacting with the slow solar wind (Zone I) and with the fast solar wind (Zone II). Based on the theory of magnetic KHI proposed by Chandrasekhar (1961) we found the radial heliocentric interval for the KHI existence, in particular we constrain it with the CME magnetic field intensity. We conclude that KHI may exist in both CME Zones but it is perceived that Zone I is more appropriated for the KHI formation.

It is well known that not all solar flares are connected with eruptions followed by coronal mass ejection (CME). Even strongest X-class flares may not be accompanied by eruptions or are accompanied by failed eruptions. One of important factor that prevent eruption from developing into CME is strength of the magnetic field overlying flare site. Few observations show that active regions with specific magnetic configuration may produce many CME-less solar flares. Therefore, forecasts of geoeffective events based on active region properties have to take into account probability of confining solar eruptions. Present observations of SDO/AIA give a chance for deep statistical analysis of properties of an active region which may lead to confining an eruption. We developed automated method which can recognize eruptions in AIA images. With this tool we will be able to analyze statistical properties of failed eruptions observed by AIA telescope.

We consider the influence of a coronal mass ejection (CME) of a solar type star on the mass loss rate of a hot Jupiter exoplanet. We have conducted 3D numerical gas-dynamic simulations of the planet's atmosphere that interacts with CME. Using the results of these simulations we have estimated the specific parameters that influence the mass loss rate. Based on the assumption that CME totally sweeps away part of the planet's gaseous envelope located outside the Roche lobe we estimated the maximum mass loss rate. Finally, we have considered the dependence of mass loss rate on the frequency of CMEs in course of star's evolution.

Flarix is a radiation–hydrodynamical (RHD) code for modeling of the response of the chromosphere to a beam bombardment during solar flares. It solves the set of hydrodynamic conservation equations coupled with NLTE equations of radiative transfer. The simulations are driven by high energy electron beams. We present results of the Flarix simulations of a flaring loop relevant to the problem of continuum radiation during flares. In particular we focus on properties of the hydrogen Balmer continuum which was recently detected by IRIS.

Solar flares produce radiations in very broad wavelengths. Spectra can supply us abundant information about the local plasma, such as temperature, density, mass motion and so on. Strong chromospheric lines, like the most studied Hα and Ca II 8542 Å lines are formed under conditions of departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium in the lower atmosphere subject to flare heating. Understanding how these lines are formed is very useful for us to correctly interpret the observations. In this paper, we try to figure out the response of chromospheric lines heated by different periodic non-thermal electron beams. Our results are based on radiative hydrodynamic simulations. We vary the periods of electron beam injection from 1.25 s to 20 s. We compare the response times to different heating parameters. Possible explanations are discussed.