What the study found
The study found that PM J11183+1347, an M dwarf star, is strongly magnetically active and shows rotational changes and frequent flaring. The authors report flare energies from 1.59 × 10^32 to 1.05 × 10^34 erg, with several superflares above 10^33 erg.
Why the authors say this matters
The findings indicate that the star’s activity is consistent with strong surface magnetism, including spot-related variability and flare behavior. The authors conclude that the flare frequency pattern and flare-duration relationship support magnetic reconnection as the main process behind the flares.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analyzed high-cadence light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) across four sectors. They used periodogram analysis to examine rotational modulation and studied detected flare events to measure their durations, energies, and shapes.
What worked and what didn't
They detected 21 flare events lasting 15 to 455 minutes. The light curves showed periods from 4.59 to 6.34 days, and the flare morphologies included classical single-peaked flares, complex multipeaked flares, and peak-bump structures.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations in detail. The reported period range may be attributed to differential rotation and evolving starspots, but the abstract presents this as a possible explanation rather than a confirmed one.
Key points
- PM J11183+1347 is described as an active dMe-type M dwarf at 24.8 pc.
- TESS light curves from four sectors showed rotational periods between 4.59 and 6.34 days.
- The study detected 21 flare events with energies from 1.59 × 10^32 to 1.05 × 10^34 erg.
- Several flares were classified as superflares with energies above 10^33 erg.
- The flare frequency distribution followed a power law with index α = 1.57 ± 0.18.
- Flare duration and energy were strongly correlated, with a correlation of about 0.96.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- TESS observations reveal active flaring in PM J11183+1347
- Authors:
- Dorothy M. Mwanzia, Rajib Kumbhakar, Soumen Mondal, Sneh Lata, Geoffrey Okeng’o, Samrat Ghosh, John Buers
- Institutions:
- Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, University of Nairobi, University of Nairobi, University of Nairobi
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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