Stellar flares observed by LOFT: implications for the physics of coronae and for the "space weather" environment of extrasolar planets

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the LOFT mission could significantly advance our understanding of stellar flares and their effects on the space environment of exoplanets, with implications for astrophysics and planetary habitability.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of LOFT to study stellar flares in detail, offering new insights into corona physics and space weather impacts on exoplanets.

Findings

LOFT could detect and analyze a wide range of stellar flares.

The mission may improve understanding of flare mechanisms.

Results could inform models of exoplanet habitability.

Abstract

This is a White Paper in support of the mission concept of the Large Observatory for X-ray Timing (LOFT), proposed as a medium-sized ESA mission. We discuss the potential of LOFT for the study of stellar flares. For a summary, we refer to the paper.