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Constraining Mass-loss Rates of Low-mass Cool Stars

TYPEAstrophysics Seminar
Speaker:Ofer Cohen
Affiliation:Harvard-Smithsonian CfA
Organizer:Hagai Perets
Date:29.12.2013
Time:13:30 - 14:30
Location:Lidow 620
Abstract:Mass-loss rates of low-mass cools stars (solar analogs) are important
ingredient for stellar evolution models as they define the spindown rate
of these stars over time. However, stellar winds and mass-loss rates of
such stars cannot be directly observed due to their weak signal. Indirect
observations resulted in a scaling laws for the mass-loss rate as a
function of activity level. These scaling laws predict much higher
mass-loss rate for young active stars. In my talk, I will show a study of
stellar mass-loss rates of solar analogs that combines numerical
simulations and data analysis based on the known physics of the Sun and
the solar wind. I will argue that mass-loss rates of solar analogs may not
be as high as predicted by the scaling laws.