The Flare-Activity of 2MASSJ16111534-1757214 in the Upper Scorpius association

TL;DR

This study investigates the flare activity of the young, highly active M-star 2MASS J16111534-1757214 in the Upper Scorpius association, revealing its frequent super-flares and comparing its flare distribution to other stars and solar activity.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of flare frequency and energy distribution for a young M-star in Upper Scorpius, highlighting similarities with solar-like stars.

Findings

2MASS J16111534-1757214 experiences super-flares every 52 hours.

Flare-energy distribution follows a broken power-law with different indices for small and large flares.

The star's flare distribution is similar to that of other M-stars and solar-like stars.

Abstract

Flares are known to play an important role for the evolution of the atmospheres of young planets. In order to understand the evolution of planets, it is thus important to study the flare-activity of young stars. This is particularly the case for young M-stars, because they are very active. We study photometrically and spectroscopically the highly active M-star 2MASS J16111534-1757214. We show that it is a member of the Upper Sco OB association, which has an age of 5-10 Myrs. We also re-evaluate the status of other bona-fide M-stars in this region and identify 42 members. Analyzing the K2-light curves, we find that 2MASS J16111534-1757214 has, on average, one super-flare with E > 1.0E35 erg every 620 hours, and one with E >1.0E34 erg every 52 hours. Although this is the most active M-star in the Upper Sco association, the power-law index of its flare-distribution is similar to that of other M-stars in this region. 2MASS J16111534-1757214 as well as other M-stars in this region show a broken power-law distribution in the flare-frequency diagram. Flares larger than E >3E34 erg have a power-law index beta=-1.3+/-0.1 and flares smaller than that beta=-0.8+/-0.1. We furthermore conclude that the flare-energy distribution for young M-stars is not that different from solar-like stars.