SOLAR-LIKE M-CLASS X-RAY FLARES ON PROXIMA-CENTAURI OBSERVED BY THE ASCA SATELLITE

Citation
B. Haisch et al., SOLAR-LIKE M-CLASS X-RAY FLARES ON PROXIMA-CENTAURI OBSERVED BY THE ASCA SATELLITE, Science, 268(5215), 1995, pp. 1327-1329
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
00368075
Volume
268
Issue
5215
Year of publication
1995
Pages
1327 - 1329
Database
ISI
SICI code
0036-8075(1995)268:5215<1327:SMXFOP>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
Because of instrumental sensitivity limits and stellar distances, the types of x-ray flares observable on stars have been intrinsically much more energetic than those on the sun. Such enormous events are a usef ul extrapolation of the solar phenomenon if the underlying assumption is correct that they form a continuous sequence involving similar phys ical processes as on the sun. The Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA), with its greater sensitivity and high-energy res ponse, is now able to test this hypothesis. Direct comparison with sol ar flares measured the x-ray-monitoring Geostationary Operational Envi ronmental Satellites (GOES) is possible. The detection of flares on Pr oxima Centauri that correspond to GOES M-class events on the sun are r eported.