Chromospheric Mg I Emission Lines of Pre-Main-Sequence Stars

TL;DR

This study investigates Mg I chromospheric emission lines in pre-main sequence stars to understand whether their chromospheres are activated by dynamo processes or mass accretion, revealing different activation mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides the first detection and analysis of Mg I emission lines in PMS stars, distinguishing between dynamo-driven and accretion-driven chromospheric activity.

Findings

Mg I emission lines in PMS stars without veiling are similar to ZAMS stars with similar Rossby numbers.

Stars with veiling show stronger Mg I lines, indicating additional heating from mass accretion.

Chromospheric activation in PMS stars occurs via both dynamo processes and mass accretion.

Abstract

To reveal details of the internal structure, the relationship between chromospheric activity and the Rossby number has been extensively examined for main-sequence stars. For active pre-main sequence (PMS) stars, it is suggested that the level of activity be assessed using optically thin emission lines, such as Mg I. We aim to detect Mg I chromospheric emission lines from PMS stars and determine whether the chromosphere is activated by the dynamo process or by mass accretion from protoplanetary disks. We analyzed high-resolution optical spectra of $64\ $PMS stars obtained with Very Large Telescope (VLT)/X-shooter and UVES and examined the infrared Ca II (8542 A) and Mg I (8807 A) emission lines. To detect the weak chromospheric emission lines, we determined the atmospheric parameters ($T_{\rm eff}$ and $\log\ g$) and the degree of veiling of the PMS stars by comparing the observed spectra with photospheric model spectra. After subtracting the photospheric model spectrum from the PMS spectrum, we detected Ca II and Mg I as emission lines. The strengths of the Mg I emission lines in PMS stars with no veiling are comparable to those in zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) stars if both types of stars have similar Rossby numbers. The Mg I emission lines in these PMS stars are thought to be formed by a dynamo process similar to that in ZAMS stars. In contrast, the Mg I emission lines in PMS stars with veiling are stronger than those in ZAMS stars. These objects are believed to have protoplanetary disks, where mass accretion generates shocks near the photosphere, heating the chromosphere. The chromosphere of PMS stars is activated not only by the dynamo process but also by mass accretion.