• Title of article

    Biological damage due to photospheric, chromospheric and flare radiation in the environments of main-sequence stars

  • Author/Authors

    Manfred Cuntz، نويسنده , , Edward F. Guinan and Robert L. Kurucz، نويسنده ,

  • Issue Information
    روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2009
  • Pages
    9
  • From page
    417
  • To page
    425
  • 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.
  • Keywords
    planets and satellites: general , stars: evolution , stars: chromospheres , stars: activity , stars: flare , stars: late-type , astrobiology
  • Journal title
    Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
  • Serial Year
    2009
  • Journal title
    Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
  • Record number

    673175