Despite 15 years since discovery, the cause of super-saturation - the reductionof coronal X-ray activity in very fast-rotating G- and K-stars - is still notresolved, yet must provide important clues to the behaviour of magnetic dynamos,B-field topology, and angular momentum loss at extreme rotation rates. Bymeasuring the X-ray activity of several small M-dwarfs, rotating at twice therate of previously studied objects, we will determine which parameter (rotationperiod, Rossby number or Keplerian co-rotation radius) best predictssuper-saturation and hence test whether centrifugal stripping of the outercorona is a viable model.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2012-05-11T18:49:27Z/2012-08-27T14:19:54Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Prof Rob Jeffries, 2013, 'Understanding Coronal Super-Saturation', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wif9d1z
