The changing face of α Centauri B: probing plage and stellar activity in K dwarfs

Abstract

Abstract Detailed knowledge of stellar activity is crucial for understanding stellar dynamos, as well as pushing exoplanet radial-velocity detection limits towards Earth analogue confirmation. We directly compare archival High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher spectra taken at the minimum in α Cen B’s activity cycle to a high-activity state when clear rotational modulation of $\log {R^{\prime }_{HK}}$ is visible. Relative to the inactive spectra, we find a large number of narrow pseudo-emission features in the active spectra with strengths that are rotationally modulated. These features most likely originate from plage, spots or a combination of both. They also display radial velocity variations of ∼300 m s−1 – consistent with an active region rotating across the stellar surface. Furthermore, we see evidence that some of the lines originating from the ‘active immaculate’ photosphere appear broader relative to the ‘inactive immaculate’ case. This may be due to enhanced contributions of, for example, magnetic bright points to these lines, which then causes additional line broadening. More detailed analysis may enable measurements of plage and spot coverage using single spectra in the future.