Size does n’t count when it comes to magnetism in star . Astronomers have chance on an radical - coolheaded red nanus star with an modal magnetic subject field comparable to the strong field produced by the Sun duringpeak activity .
Using the powerful radio scope ALMA ( Atacama Large Millimeter Array ) , the team was able to find the discharge father by negatron being push around by the warm magnetic field of battle . As electron released by the star move quickly around field line , they emitsynchrotron radiationthat ALMA can detect . ALMA find this in a single four - hr watching , which imply the discharge is continuous .
The star , called TVLM 513 - 46546 , is located just 35 weak - years from Earth . It ’s a fast - revolve object , spinning in just two hours , with nine percent of the mass of the Sun and an mean surface temperature of 2,500 Kelvins ( 2,200 ° speed of light , 4,000 ° F ) . In terms of size and temperature , the red dwarf sit in the middle between principal ( which fuse hydrogen ) and brown dwarf ( which do n’t ) .
The lack of nuclear fusion makes the comportment of the strong magnetic domain even more mysterious . Magnetismin the Sun comes from the cause of charged particle in its interior , similar to an electromagnet where electrical currents mother a magnetic field . As it stands , it is unclear as to where its magnetic field of view originates .
" This star is a very different beast from our Sun , magnetically speaking , " said co - author Edo Berger in astatement .
Red dwarfs are themost common starsin the Milky Way , and this subject area , alongside otherrecent intelligence , spells catastrophe for satellite around them . The continuous flare emissions from TVLM 513 - 46546 are 10,000 brighter than what our own Sun regularly produces .
" If we lived around a sensation like this one , we would n’t have any satellite communications . In fact , it might be extremely difficult for life to develop at all in such a stormy environment , " tell tip author Peter Williams .
The breakthrough has important implications in the search for life sentence in our Galax urceolata . We do n’t know if this is an exceptional red-faced dwarf or a normal one . next observations will have to characterize how vulgar these flaring virtuoso are and under what atmospheric condition , if any , life could evolve around these object .
Thepaperis published inThe Astrophysical Journal .
