Helium absorption in young stars

Paper Title:

The Strength and Variability of the Helium 10830 Å Triplet in Young Stars, with Implications for Exosphere Detection

Published on:

8 November 2023

Primary Category:

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Paper Authors:

Daniel M. Krolikowski,

Adam L. Kraus,

Benjamin M. Tofflemire,

Caroline V. Morley,

Andrew W. Mann,

Andrew Vanderburg

Bullets

Key Details

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Helium 10830 Angstrom absorption strength correlates with stellar rotation period, not temperature

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Absorption strength variability is large in young stars, decreasing by age 300 Myr

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Variability occurs on timescales longer than hours, minimized for contemporaneous observations

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This aids detecting evaporating atmospheres of planets orbiting young stars

Explore the topics in this paper

exoplanet atmospheres

helium absorption in stars

planet-hosting stars

stellar activity and variability

stellar rotation period

AI generated summary

Helium absorption in young stars

This paper studies the helium 10830 Angstrom absorption triplet in young stars to understand its relationship with stellar activity. Time series near-infrared spectroscopy was analyzed for 10 young planet-hosting stars. Helium absorption strength does not depend on temperature, but instead correlates with rotation period, being strongest for rapid rotators. Absorption strength variability also depends on age and activity, with large amplitude changes in the youngest stars that decrease by age 300 Myr. Variability occurs on timescales longer than hours, but is minimized for contemporaneous observations surrounding transit, aiding exosphere detection. Cover art could depict a young star with dramatic flares and stellar wind sculpting the planet's atmosphere.