Polarization of Flare Stars and of Young Stellar Objects
陳文屏 Wen-Ping Chen (NCU)
※Keywords:
Astronomical Observation, Polarization, Stellar Magnetism
※Description:
Stellar magnetism arises from a yet-to-clarify dynamo process in rotating, convective interior. Late-type stars, particularly cool M dwarfs, are known to be magnetically active, more so at youth, prone to produce flares similar to the solar prominences as field lines reconnect, with a burst intensity rivalling to the entire photospheric brightness. The summer student will work with the optical data, both in photometry and in polarimetry, already collected from various telescopes to derive the flare profile to diagnose the heating and cooling mechanisms. Basic knowledge of stellar
physics and computer coding skills regarding time-series data are required.
Another project is on young stars, i.e., T Tauri stars and Herbig Ae/Be stars, for which clumpy circumstellar dust may account for their linear polarization. Optical imaging polarimetry has been measured for a few dozens such young stars. The summer student will analyze complementary diagnosis data, such as infrared color excess, to substantiate the polarization results. Basic knowledge of stellar physics and statistical correlation analysis is needed.