The MG II emission in a sample of regular-period RS CVn systems.

Abstract

The authors have studied a sample of ten RS CVn systems by means of IUE high resolution long wavelength spectra. A general trend toward decreasing chromospheric activity (R_hk) for slower rotating stars has been found. Considering the R_hk values and their relation with structural parameters (T_eff, log g, log P_rot) the authors suggest that there are two posssible different activity levels. The less active systems have R_hk chromospheric activity levels similar to the single cool stars showing the same general trend. A relation between R_hk and the inverse Rossby number has been obtained, in which the RS CVn stars fill the gap found by Rucinski between W UMa and the main-sequence stars.