Speaker
Description
We constructed a comprehensive sample of solar-like stars by combining Kepler, Gaia, and LAMOST data, selecting stars with near-solar fundamental parameters and measured rotation periods. The rotation periods were determined using a method specifically designed to recover signals from relatively old and weakly active stars.
We find that the majority of solar-like stars exhibit photometric variability within the range observed for the Sun. However, we identify a subgroup of roughly 400 stars that are nearly indistinguishable from the Sun in their basic properties, yet display significantly enhanced variability. In addition, we detect superflares on approximately 2500 solar-like stars.
These results can be interpreted in two ways: either subtle, yet unidentified physical differences separate the highly variable stars from those with near-solar variability, or both groups represent the intrinsic range of magnetic activity states accessible to Sun-like stars. In the latter case, the Sun may currently be in a relatively quiet phase and could, in principle, undergo epochs of substantially elevated variability.