Coronal activity cycles in action - X-rays from alpha Centauri A/B

Abstract

We report on the coronal activity cycles of our stellar neighbors alpha Centauri A/B. The binary has been monitored with XMM-Newton since 2002 to study the long-term evolution of coronal activity evolution in X-rays. The solar analog alpha Cen A was clearly detected early in the program, but virtually faded away from XMM's detectors view around 2005. After remaining nearly a decade in a state of coronal weakness, we now detect a clear re-brightening of its corona. The secondary alpha Cen B dominates the X-ray emission at most times and more than a full cycle is covered for this star. A new X-ray maximum was observed around 2012 that is again followed by gentle dimming over the recent years. The temporal evolution of the X-ray emission can be well understood, in analogy to the 11 year solar-cycle, by coronal activity cycles with different amplitudes and periods operating in both stars.