| Description |
Stellar flares emit copious radiation at X-ray, optical and radio wavelengthsbut have not yet been investigated in the far-infrared. Recent observationsat millimeter wavelengths provide tantalizing evidence that a populationof ultrarelativistic electrons may be accelerated during flares and may providesignificant synchrotron radiation in the far-infrared and sub-millimeter wavelength regimes. Herschel observations of two very active stars with a history of strong, frequent and energetic flares will probe this wavelength regime for the first time. Ultrarelativistic electrons may hold the key to explaining the photospheric flare heating that is necessary to produce the observed white light flare emission which carries more than half of the total flare energy. Our team brings together experts in stellar flare optical and radio observations, particle acceleration and plasma physics, and radiative hydrodynamical atmosphere modeling. We propose to carry out a Herschel flare observing campaign together with several ground-based optical and radio observatories and to produce a new generation of flare models that include the ultrarelativistic electron population. |
