Decay of Coronal Components


credit: Gudel, Skinner, Guinan

Almost all stars have two-temperature coronae. The hottest component (~107-8K) is seen only in rapid rotators. It decays faster than the ~106K solar-like component.

This may be evidence for two populations of magnetic loops:

  • A hotter population of long loops (comparable in size to the star)
  • A population of short, solar-like loops

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