The rotation periods of cool stars: Measurements, uses, connections and prospects
23rd - 26th September 2019
Talk
The Hyades and Praesepe open clusters as benchmarks for stellar rotational evolution
Stephanie Douglas, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
The Kepler and K2 missions have enabled detailed studies of stellar rotations in a variety of young open clusters, opening a new era for benchmarking the evolution of stellar rotation. The Hyades and Praesepe in particular provide important constraints on models for stellar rotation. Many studies have combined these two clusters into a single set of rotation periods. I will discuss new results showing that, in fact, Solar-type stars in the Hyades rotate, on average, 0.4 days slower than their Praesepe counterparts. This corresponds to a gyrochronological age difference of 57 Myr. However, the lower-mass cluster members do not show an offset. This provides further evidence for stalling in the rotational evolution of these stars, and highlights the need for more detailed analysis of angular-momentum evolution for stars of different masses and ages.