Seeking the origin of X-rays from chemically peculiar late B stars

Bright Xray emission from isolated late B stars remains unexplained, asconventional theory predicts these stars neither to have coronae nor to ejectsufficiently intense stellar winds. Among those that have been detected,several of the brightest are chemically peculiar stars. We propose to observeMu Lep, the Xray brightest HgMn star and to use highresolution spectroscopyto unveil the source of its Xray emission, whether shocks in stellar winds,magnetically active regions, or an invisible companion. The Xray abundancepatterns will be compared with those in the photosphere. Xray emission frompeculiar elements, which could provide a definite association of the Xrayswith the B star, will be sought using new atomic calculations. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]