Stellar X-Ray Activity and Habitability Revealed by the ROSAT Sky Survey

Abstract

Using the homogeneous X-ray catalog from ROSAT observations, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into stellar X-ray activity–rotation relations for both single and binary stars. Generally, the relation for single stars consists of two distinct regions: a weak decay region, indicating a continued dependence of the magnetic dynamo on stellar rotation rather than a saturation regime with constant activity, and a rapid decay region, where X-ray activity is strongly correlated with the Rossby number. Detailed analysis reveals more fine structures within the relation: in the extremely fast-rotating regime, a decrease in X-ray activity was observed with increasing rotation rate, referred to as supersaturation, while in the extremely slow-rotating region, the relation flattens, mainly due to the scattering of F stars. This scattering may result from intrinsic variability in stellar activities over one stellar cycle or the presence of different dynamo mechanisms. Binaries exhibit a similar relation to that of single stars while the limited sample size prevented the identification of fine structures in the relation for binaries. We calculated the mass-loss rates of planetary atmospheres triggered by X-ray emissions from host stars. Our findings indicate that for an Earthlike planet within the stellar habitable zone, it would easily lose its entire primordial H/He envelope (equating to about 1% of the planetary mass).

Keywords

• Habitable zone
• Late-type stars
• Stellar activity
• Stellar rotation
• X-ray stars