Biological Damage due to Photospheric, Chromospheric and Flare Radiation in the Environments of Main-Sequence Stars

TL;DR

This study assesses how radiation from different stellar layers affects biological molecules, highlighting increased UV in young stars and flare activity in K and M stars that could threaten planetary atmospheres.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of radiation-induced biological damage across various star types, incorporating synthetic models and considering atmospheric effects.

Findings

Chromospheric UV radiation is higher in young stars across spectral types.

Flare activity is most intense in K and M-type stars.

Planetary atmospheres in close-in orbits may be stripped by stellar flares.

Abstract

We explore the biological damage initiated in the environments of F, G, K, and M-type main-sequence stars due to photospheric, chromospheric and flare radiation. The amount of chromospheric radiation is, in a statistical sense, directly coupled to the stellar age as well as the presence of significant stellar magnetic fields and dynamo activity. With respect to photospheric radiation, we also consider detailed synthetic models, taking into account millions or hundred of millions of lines for atoms and molecules. Chromospheric UV radiation is increased in young stars in regard to all stellar spectral types. Flare activity is most pronounced in K and M-type stars, which also has the potential of stripping the planetary atmospheres of close-in planets, including planets located in the stellar habitable zone. For our studies, we take DNA as a proxy for carbon-based macromolecules, guided by the paradigm that carbon might constitute the biochemical centerpiece of extraterrestrial life forms. Planetary atmospheric attenuation is considered in an approximate manner.