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About 70%–80% of stars in our solar and Galactic neighborhood are M dwarfs. They span a range of low masses and temperatures relative to solar-type stars, facilitating molecule formation throughout their atmospheres. Standard stellar atmosphere models primarily designed for FGK stars face challenges when characterizing broadband molecular features in spectra of cool stars. Here, we introduce SPHINX—a new 1D self-consistent radiative–convective thermochemical equilibrium chemistry model grid of atmospheres and spectra for M dwarfs in low resolution (R ∼ 250). We incorporate the latest precomputed absorption cross sections with pressure broadening for key molecules dominant in late-K, early/main-sequence-M stars. We then validate our grid models by determining fundamental properties (T eff, log g, [M/H], radius, and C/O) for 10 benchmark M+G binary stars with known host metallicities and 10 M dwarfs with interferometrically measured angular diameters. Incorporating the Gaussian process inference tool Starfish, we account for correlated and systematic noise in low-resolution (spectral stitching of SpeX, SNIFS, and STIS) observations and derive robust estimates of fundamental M-dwarf atmospheric parameters. Additionally, we assess the influence of photospheric heterogeneity on inferred [M/H] and find that it could explain some deviations from observations. We also probe whether the adopted convective mixing length parameter influences inferred radii, effective temperature, and [M/H] and again find that may explain discrepancies between interferometric observations and model-derived parameters for cooler M dwarfs. Mainly, we show the unique strength in leveraging broadband molecular absorption features occurring in low-resolution M dwarf spectra and demonstrate the ability to improve constraints on fundamental properties of exoplanet hosts and brown-dwarf companions.

An αΩ dynamo, combining shear and cyclonic convection in the tachocline, is believed to generate the solar cycle. However, this model cannot explain cycles in fast rotators (with minimal shear) or in fully convective stars (no tachocline); an analysis of these stars could therefore provide key insights into how these cycles work. We reexamine ASAS data for 15 M dwarfs, 11 of which are presumed fully convective; the addition of newer ASAS-SN data confirms cycles in roughly 12 of them, while presenting new or revised rotation periods for 5 stars. The amplitudes and periods of these cycles follow Acyc∝Pcyc0.94±0.11 , with P cyc/P rot ∝ Ro −1.02±0.06 (where Ro is the Rossby number), very similar to P cyc/P rot ∝ Ro −0.81±0.17 that we find for 40 previously studied FGK stars, although P cyc/P rot and α are a factor of ∼20 smaller in the M stars. The very different P cyc/P rot–Ro relation seen here compared to previous work suggests that two types of dynamo, with opposite Ro dependences, operate in cool stars. Initially, a (likely α 2 or α 2Ω) dynamo operates throughout the convective zone in mid- to late-M and fast-rotating FGK stars, but once magnetic breaking decouples the core and convective envelope, a tachocline αΩ dynamo begins and eventually dominates in older FGK stars. A change in α in the tachocline dynamo generates the fundamentally different P cyc/P rot–Ro relation.

A star's spin–orbit angle can give us insight into a system's formation and dynamical history. In this paper, we use MAROON-X observations of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect to measure the projected obliquity of the LP 261-75 (also known as TOI-1779) system, focusing on the fully convective M dwarf LP 261-75A and the transiting brown dwarf LP 261-75C. This is the first obliquity constraint of a brown dwarf orbiting an M dwarf and the seventh obliquity constraint of a brown dwarf overall. We measure a projected obliquity of 5−10+11 degrees and a true obliquity of 14−7+8 degrees for the system, meaning that the system is well aligned and that the star is rotating very nearly edge-on, with an inclination of 90° ± 11°. The system thus follows along with the trends observed in transiting brown dwarfs around hotter stars, which typically have low obliquities. The tendency for brown dwarfs to be aligned may point to some enhanced obliquity damping in brown dwarf systems, but there is also a possibility that the LP 261-75 system was simply formed aligned. In addition, we note that the brown dwarf's radius (RC = 0.9 RJ) is not consistent with the youth of the system or radius trends observed in other brown dwarfs, indicating that LP 261-75C may have an unusual formation history.

The fundamental parameters of a low-mass star can potentially be determined from its photometry and astrometry. This is complicated by the fact that 10%–20% of low-mass stars are predicted to be equal-mass binaries. These unresolved systems appear more luminous compared to single stars with the same fundamental parameters. We present a method to differentiate binary stars from single-star main-sequence K and M dwarfs using their Gaia DR3 XP spectra. We assemble a training set of stars that have pristine astrometry and photometry, are located within 100 pc of the Sun, and exclude stars with Gaia DR3 flags suggesting they may be unequal mass systems, thereby leaving stars that are predominantly either single- or equal-mass binaries. We then iteratively train random forest regression models to predict absolute magnitude and color given the RP spectral coefficients of a star. After each model, we remove the stars that have absolute magnitudes significantly brighter than their predicted values. This method converges on a model trained only on single stars. We then use this model to identify the “overluminous” K and M stars in Gaia DR3 within 100 pc, with some quality cuts. We find that ∼13% of the sample is significantly overluminous and assume these to be unresolved binaries. We aggregate several multiplicity surveys across different projected separations and incorporate our overluminous binaries to create a general Catalog of Systems within 100 pc. We use this Catalog to provide lower limits on the multiplicity fraction for stars between 0.1 and 0.7 M⊙.

We report the results of an extensive survey in the quest for pulsation signatures in main-sequence M dwarf stars, based on observations acquired by the TESS space mission. Using TESS 2 minutes cadence light curves from a sample of 56,217 targets, observed in Sectors 1–89 of the mission, we identify low-amplitude modulation for 15 targets, with period values ranging from 0.0421 days (∼1.01 hr) to 0.1148 days (∼2.75 hr). These periodicities fall within the predicted range for pulsations in low-mass main-sequence M-type stars. For instance, for low-mass stars, pulsation is a fundamental observable for solving persistent discrepancies between observed and predicted parameters (e.g., radii, masses). Nevertheless, the detection of a pulsating M dwarf has not yet been achieved despite solid theoretical predictions. Among the 15 targets referred to, only one star, the dwarf MGC 2543, appears to be a good candidate for a pulsator, despite a mean modulation amplitude of 1647 μmag, which is higher than the predicted values.

Stellar variability is a limiting factor for planet detection and characterization, particularly around active M-type stars. Here we revisit one of the most active stars from the Kepler mission, the M4 star GJ 1243, and use a sample of 414 flare events from 11 months of 1-minute cadence light curves to study the empirical morphology of white-light stellar flares. We use a Gaussian process detrending technique to account for the underlying starspots. We present an improved analytic, continuous flare template that is generated by stacking the flares onto a scaled time and amplitude and uses a Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis to fit the model. Our model is defined using classical flare events but can also be used to model complex, multipeaked flare events. We demonstrate the utility of our model using TESS data at the 10-minute, 2-minute, and 20 s cadence modes. Our new flare model code is made publicly available on GitHub. 5 5 https://github.com/lupitatovar/Llamaradas-Estelares

Characterizing the distribution of flare properties and occurrence rates is important for understanding habitability of M-dwarf exoplanets. The Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) space telescope observed the GJ 65 system, composed of the active, flaring M stars BL Cet and UV Cet, for 15,900 s (∼4.4 hr) in two ultraviolet (UV) bands. The contrast in flux between flares and the photospheres of cool stars is maximized at UV wavelengths, and GJ 65 is the brightest and nearest flaring M-dwarf system with significant GALEX coverage. It therefore represents the best opportunity to measure low-energy flares with GALEX. We construct high-cadence lightcurves from calibrated photon events and find 13 new flare events with near-UV (NUV) energies ranging from 1028.5–1029.5 erg and recover one previously reported flare with an energy of 1031 erg. The newly reported flares are among the smallest M-dwarf flares observed in the UV with sufficient time resolution to discern lightcurve morphology. The estimated flare frequency at these low energies is consistent with extrapolation from the distributions of higher-energy flares on active M dwarfs measured by other surveys. The largest flare in our sample is bright enough to exceed the local nonlinearity threshold of the GALEX detectors, which precludes color analysis. However, we detect quasi-periodic pulsations during this flare in both the far-UV and NUV bands at a period of ∼50 s, which we interpret as a modulation of the flare’s chromospheric thermal emission through periodic triggering of reconnection by external MHD oscillations in the corona.

We present a study of the variation timescales of the chromospheric activity indicator Hα on a sample of 13 fully convective, active mid-to-late M stars with masses between 0.1 and 0.3 solar masses. Our goal was to determine the dominant variability timescale and, by inference, a possible mechanism responsible for the variation. We gathered 10 or more high-resolution spectra each of 10 stars using the TRES spectrograph at times chosen to span all phases of stellar rotation, as determined from photometric data from the MEarth Observatories. All stars varied in their Hα emission. For nine of these stars, we found no correlation between Hα and rotational phase, indicating that constant emission from fixed magnetic structures, such as star spots and plage, are unlikely to be the dominant source of Hα emission variability. In contrast, one star, G 7–34, shows a clear relationship between Hα and stellar rotational phase. Intriguingly, we found that this star is a member of the AB Doradus moving group and hence has the young age of 149 Myr. High-cadence spectroscopic observations of three additional stars revealed that they are variable on timescales ranging from 20 to 45 minutes, which we posit may be due to flaring behavior. For one star, GJ 1111, simultaneous TESS photometry and spectroscopic monitoring show an increase in Hα emission with increased photometric brightness. We conclude that low-energy flares are able to produce variation in Hα on the timescales we observe and thus may be the dominant source of Hα variability on active fully convective M dwarfs.

The chemical abundance measurements of host stars and their substellar companions provide a powerful tool to trace the formation mechanism of the planetary systems. We present a detailed high-resolution spectroscopic analysis of a young M-type star, DH Tau A, which is located in the Taurus molecular cloud belonging to the Taurus-Auriga star-forming region. This star is host to a low-mass companion, DH Tau b, and both the star and the companion are still in their accreting phase. We apply our technique to measure the abundances of carbon and oxygen using carbon- and oxygen-bearing molecules, such as CO and OH, respectively. We determine a near-solar carbon-to-oxygen abundance ratio of C/O = 0.555 ± 0.063 for the host star DH Tau A. We compare this stellar abundance ratio with that of the companion from our previous study ( C/O=0.54−0.05+0.06 ), which also has a near-solar value. This confirms the chemical homogeneity in the DH Tau system, which suggests a formation scenario for the companion consistent with a direct and relatively fast gravitational collapse rather than a slow core accretion process.

Rocky planets orbiting M-dwarf stars are among the most promising and abundant astronomical targets for detecting habitable climates. Planets in the M-dwarf habitable zone are likely synchronously rotating, such that we expect significant day–night temperature differences and potentially limited fractional habitability. Previous studies have focused on scenarios where fractional habitability is confined to the substellar or “eye” region, but in this paper we explore the possibility of planets with terminator habitability, defined by the existence of a habitable band at the transition between a scorching dayside and a glacial nightside. Using a global climate model, we show that for water-limited planets it is possible to have scorching temperatures in the “eye” and freezing temperatures on the nightside, while maintaining a temperate climate in the terminator region, due to reduced atmospheric energy transport. On water-rich planets, however, increasing the stellar flux leads to increased atmospheric energy transport and a reduction in day–night temperature differences, such that the terminator does not remain habitable once the dayside temperatures approach runaway or moist greenhouse limits. We also show that while water-abundant simulations may result in larger fractional habitability, they are vulnerable to water loss through cold trapping on the nightside surface or atmospheric water vapor escape, suggesting that even if planets were formed with abundant water, their climates could become water-limited and subject to terminator habitability.