The Flaring Corona of UX Arietis

Abstract

Here we present observational results on the RS CVn star UX Arietis from four very-long-baseline interferometry observations distributed in time to cover the rotational period of 6.44 days. The data are better fit by two Gaussian components than by the usual core-plus-halo model. In the first three days the sizes of the two components did not change much from hour to hour but their relative position and orientation changed from day to day. The origin of this evolution can be explained by geometrical factors (i.e., star rotation). The fourth day a large flare occurred and dramatic changes in the sizes of the Gaussian components were seen.