The nearby star $rm epsilon Eridani$ has been a frequent target of radio surveys for stellar emission and extraterrestial intelligence. Using deep $rm 2-4 GHz$ observations with the Very Large Array, we have uncovered a $29 mu {rm Jy}$ compact, steady continuum radio source coincident with $rm epsilon Eridani$ to within 0.06 arcseconds ($lesssim 2sigma$; 0.2 au at the distance of the star). Combining our data with previous high frequency continuum detections of $rm epsilon Eridani$, our observations reveal a spectral turnover at $rm 6 GHz$. We ascribe the $rm 2-6 GHz$ emission to optically thick, thermal gyroresonance radiation from the stellar corona, with thermal free-free opacity likely becoming relevant at frequencies below $rm 1 GHz$. The steep spectral index ($alpha simeq 2$) of the $rm 2-6 GHz$ spectrum strongly disfavors its interpretation as stellar wind-associated thermal bremsstrahlung ($alpha simeq 0.6$). Attributing the entire observed $rm 2-4 GHz$ flux density to thermal free-free wind emission, we thus, derive a stringent upper limit of $3 times 10^{-11} M_{odot} {rm yr}^{-1}$ on the mass loss rate from $rm epsilon Eridani$. Finally, we report the non-detection of flares in our data above a $5sigma$ threshold of $rm 95 mu Jy$. Together with the optical non-detection of the most recent stellar maximum expected in 2019, our observations postulate a likely evolution of the internal dynamo of $rm epsilon Eridani$.
Download