GINGA observations of AB Doradus

Abstract

We report GINGA observations of the pre main sequence star AB Doradus (HD 36705), performed during 8 – 12 January, 1990. Some rotational modulation might be present. four X-ray flares were detected. Three of these events were similar to the EINSTEIN HRI-flare (Vilhu and Linsky, 1987), with decay times around 25 min. The last flare had long rise and decay times (100 min), resembling the EXOSAT flares observed by Collier Cameron et.al. (1988). The mean flare spectrum can be fitted by a thermal bremstrahlung with temperature 5.0 keV, or by a power-law model with photon index 2.2. The 3σ upper limit of the Iron line equivalent width in the flare spectrum is 1 keV, weaker than predicted by thermal models. This Iron line anomaly was first discussed in the case of UX Ari by Tsuru et. al. (1989). However, normal equivalent widths can be derived from several EXOSAT spectra of active cool stars (Pallavicini and Tagliaferri, 1990). We discuss the possibility that the continuum from non-thermal electrons (producing also the microwave emission) could occasionally lower the apparent equivalent width. The mechanism works for reasonably low magnetic field strengths and electon power-law indexes. However, a large population of non-thermal electrons is needed (comparable to the thermal one). Stronger magnetic fields could explain the radio emission with less electrons, but then the non-thermal X-ray continuum remains small.