1. Doppler images and the underlying dynamo.
- Author
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Järvinen, S. P., Arlt, R., Hackman, T., Marsden, S. C., Küker, M., Ilyin, I. V., Berdyugina, S. V., Strassmeier, K. G., and Waite, I. A.
- Subjects
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STARS , *DYNAMO theory (Physics) , *DOPPLER radar , *CONVECTION (Astrophysics) , *F stars , *STARSPOTS , *ASTRONOMICAL photometry , *SIGNAL-to-noise ratio - Abstract
Context. The (Zeeman-)Doppler imaging studies of solar-type stars very often reveal large high-latitude spots. This also includes F stars that possess relatively shallow convection zones, indicating that the dynamo operating in these stars differs from the solar dynamo. Aims. We aim to determine whether mean-field dynamo models of late-F type dwarf stars can reproduce the surface features recovered in Doppler maps. In particular, we wish to test whether the models can reproduce the high-latitude spots observed on some F dwarfs. Methods. The photometric inversions and the surface temperature maps of AF Lep were obtained using the Occamian-approach inversion technique. Low signal-to-noise spectroscopic data were improved by applying the least-squares deconvolution method. The locations of strong magnetic flux in the stellar tachocline as well as the surface fields obtained from mean-field dynamo solutions were compared with the observed surface temperature maps. Results. The photometric record of AF Lep reveals both long- and short-term variability. However, the current data set is too short for cycle-length estimates. From the photometry, we have determined the rotation period of the star to be 0.9660 ± 0.0023 days. The surface temperature maps show a dominant, but evolving, high-latitude (around +65°) spot. Detailed study of the photometry reveals that sometimes the spot coverage varies only marginally over a long time, and at other times it varies rapidly. Of a suite of dynamo models, the model with a radiative interior rotating as fast as the convection zone at the equator delivered the highest compatibility with the obtained Doppler images [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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