Bibcode
Bouvier, J.; Martin, E. L.; Fernandez, M.; Allain, S.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, v.314, p.173-181
Advertised on:
10
1996
Journal
Citations
24
Refereed citations
20
Description
In order to provide additional constraints to current models of angular
momentum evolution of solar-type stars, we have conducted a
period-determination program in the Alpha Perseus cluster. We have
selected a sample of 22 Alpha Persei G and K dwarfs on the basis of
their seemingly slow rotation rate (vsini<=10km/s). We searched for
periodic modulation induced by stellar spots by performing a photometric
CCD monitoring campaign in the V band over a baseline of 14days. We
detected 10 periods ranging from 1.3 to 7.1days. A period was found for
7 out of the 10K stars of our sample but for only 3 out of the 12 G and
F stars. This bias is due to the existence of a clear relationship
between spectral type and the amplitude of modulation by spots. We show
that our study is not biased against the detection of very slow rotators
and conclude to the existence of a lower limit of about 6km/s for the
rotational velocity of Alpha Per G and K dwarfs. A significant fraction
of solar-type stars in young clusters thus appear to have equatorial
velocities distributed in a very narrow range between about 6 and
10km/s, a result which poses a severe constraint to current models of
angular momentum evolution.