Abstract
Low-mass stars are highly interesting targets: we are able to detect
planets in their habitable zones, and upcoming searches for biomarkers
in exoplanet atmospheres will focus on low-mass star systems due to
their ubiquity and proximity. We aim to develop an age-activity
calibration for old low-mass stars, using wide binary systems consisting
of an M or K dwarf and a white dwarf. The age of the system is
determined by the WD cooling time plus its progenitor lifetime, yielding
reliable ages in the regime >1 Gyr. For an exploratory sample of 7
systems where we have already derived ages, we propose to perform
Chandra ACIS-S observations to determine the X-ray luminosities of the M
dwarfs and correlate their stellar activity with age. We ask for a total
observing time of 110 ks.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Type | Accepted observing proposal |
| Publication status | Published - 01 Sept 2014 |