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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2010

Manfred Cuntz ,
Edward F. Guinan  and
Robert L. Kurucz
Manfred Cuntz
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019-0059, USA email: cuntz@uta.edu
Edward F. Guinan
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA email: edward.guinan@villanova.edu
Robert L. Kurucz
Affiliation:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA email: rkurucz@cfa.harvard.edu
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Abstract

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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

astrobiologyplanets and satellites: generalstars: activitystars: chromospheresstars: evolutionstars: flarestars: late-type
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Symposium S264: Solar and Stellar Variability: Impact on Earth and Planets , August 2009 , pp. 419 - 426
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2010

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