Flare activity and the quiescent X-ray emission in dMe stars

Einstein observations of the X-ray flux of quiescent dwarf Me stars are correlated with the time-averaged energy emitted by flares in the Johnson U band. It is shown that the energy emitted by the coronae of these stars in X-rays is about an order of magnitude greater than the U band flare energy. From an estimate of the ratio of the total radiation emitted to the U band flux, it seems possible that if a similar amount of mechanical energy was dissipated in the stellar atmosphere, then the observed flare events can provide sufficient energy to heat the coronae of these stars. (orig.)