|
Zic
et al. report observations of a powerful flare and associated
radio bursts from Proxima Centauri, the nearest star and exoplanet
host to the Sun.
The radio bursts, detected by ASKAP, form the most compelling example
of solar-like radio burst activity detected from another star to
date. The properties of the radio bursts following the optical flare
identify them as a solar-like type IV burst event.
On the Sun, type IV bursts only occur following coronal mass
ejections, and are driven by accelerated electrons in post-eruptive
magnetic structures. Interpreting this event in the solar paradigm,
this type IV burst from Proxima Cen is indicative of a coronal mass
ejection event from the star, marking an important step toward
understanding its space weather environment. More details are available from
the University of Sydney press release
and the
ATNF ASKAP webpages.
(Image credit: Mark Myers/ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav))
|
