The rotation-activity relation of M dwarfs is of high astrophysical interest dueto (i) the predicted dynamo transition at the fully convective boundary (SpT virgulM3), (ii) differences in angular momentum loss with respect to solar-type stars,and (iii) the small radii of their planets. habitable zones where they arestrongly exposed to the stellar high-energy emission. Our combined K2 missionand Chandra study has shown that previous studies of the X-ray - rotationconnection are incomplete for slowly rotating and low-activity fully convectivestars. We aim here at placing the ultimate constraints with ultra-deepXMM-Newton pointings for three bright, nearby fully convective (M4) stars thathave long rotation periods (30.80 d) derived by us from K2 lightcurves.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2018-06-11T06:06:21Z/2019-04-01T03:54:44Z
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 Beate Stelzer, 2020, 'Spin-down comma dynamos comma and habitability\: XMM and K2 exploration of nearby M dwarfs', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ype95ra
