Main-sequence Field Stars Research Articles

The breakdown of current gyrochronology as evidenced by old coeval stars

ABSTRACT Gyrochronology can yield useful ages for field main-sequence stars, a regime where other techniques are problematic. Typically, gyrochronology relations are calibrated using young (≲2 Gyr) clusters, but the constraints at older ages are scarce, making them potentially inaccurate and imprecise. In order to test the performance of existing relations, we construct samples of stellar pairs with coeval components, for a range of ages and with available rotation periods. These include randomly paired stars in clusters, and wide binaries in the Kepler field. We design indicators that, based on the measured rotation periods and expectations from gyrochronology, quantify the (dis)agreement between the coeval pairs and the gyrochronology calibrations under scrutiny. Our results show that wide binaries and cluster members are in better concordance with gyrochronology than samples of randomly paired field stars, confirming that the relations have predicting power. However, the agreement with the examined relations decreases for older stars, revealing a degradation of the examined relations with age, in agreement with recent works. This highlights the need for novel empirical constraints at older ages that may allow revised calibrations. Notably, using coeval stars to test gyrochronology poses the advantage of circumventing the need for age determinations while simultaneously exploiting larger samples at older ages. Our test is independent of any specific age–rotation relation, and it can be used to evaluate future spin-down models. In addition, taking gyrochronology at face value, we note that our results provide new empirical evidence that the components of field wide binaries are indeed coeval.

STELLAR AGES AND CONVECTIVE CORES IN FIELD MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS: FIRST ASTEROSEISMIC APPLICATION TO TWOKEPLERTARGETS

Using asteroseismic data and stellar evolution models we obtain the first detection of a convective core in a Kepler field main-sequence star, putting a stringent constraint on the total size of the mixed zone and showing that extra mixing beyond the formal convective boundary exists. In a slightly less massive target the presence of a convective core cannot be conclusively discarded, and thus its remaining main-sequence lifetime is uncertain. Our results reveal that best-fit models found solely by matching individual frequencies of oscillations corrected for surface effects do not always properly reproduce frequency combinations. Moreover, slightly different criteria to define what the best-fit model is can lead to solutions with similar global properties but very different interior structures. We argue that the use of frequency ratios is a more reliable way to obtain accurate stellar parameters, and show that our analysis in field main-sequence stars can yield an overall precision of 1.5%, 4%, and 10% in radius, mass, and age, respectively. We compare our results with those obtained from global oscillation properties, and discuss the possible sources of uncertainties in asteroseismic stellar modeling where further studies are still needed.

On the behavior of stellar rotation in the solar neighbourhood

AbstractRotation is a fundamental physical parameter in stellar astrophysics, playing an important role on the formation and evolution of stars. This parameter may also offer valuable information on stellar magnetism, mixing in the stellar interior, tidal interactions in close binary, as well as on angular momentum transfer and rotational breaking due to planets. The present work brings the results of an unprecedented study on the behavior of the distribution of the projected rotational velocity (v sin i) as a function of galactic position, on the basis of an unique sample of 14000 main-sequence field stars, along the spectral regions F and G. The vsini measurements used in this analyses were obtained from observations carried out with the CORAVEL spectrometers, with a precision better than about 1 km/s.

PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE STELLAR POPULATIONS ACROSS SHAPLEY CONSTELLATION III. I. PHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND IDENTIFICATION,

We present our investigation of pre--main-sequence (PMS) stellar populations in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) from imaging with Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 camera. Our targets of interest are four star-forming regions located at the periphery of the super-giant shell LMC 4 (Shapley Constellation III). The PMS stellar content of the regions is revealed through the differential Hess diagrams and the observed color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs). Further statistical analysis of stellar distributions along cross-sections of the faint part of the CMDs allowed the quantitative assessment of the PMS stars census, and the isolation of faint PMS stars as the true low-mass stellar members of the regions. These distributions are found to be well represented by a double Gaussian function, the first component of which represents the main-sequence field stars and the second the native PMS stars of each region. Based on this result, a cluster membership probability was assigned to each PMS star according to its CMD position. The higher extinction in the region LH 88 did not allow the unambiguous identification of its native stellar population. The CMD distributions of the PMS stars with the highest membership probability in the regions LH 60, LH 63 and LH 72 exhibit an extraordinary similarity among the regions, suggesting that these stars share common characteristics, as well as common recent star formation history. Considering that the regions are located at different areas of the edge of LMC 4, this finding suggests that star formation along the super-giant shell may have occurred almost simultaneously.

SPITZER24 μm EXCESSES FOR BRIGHT GALACTIC STARS IN BOÖTES AND FIRST LOOK SURVEY FIELDS

Optically bright Galactic stars (V < 13 mag) having fv(24 um) > 1 mJy are identified in Spitzer mid-infrared surveys within 8.2 square degrees for the Bootes field of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey and within 5.5 square degrees for the First Look Survey (FLS). 128 stars are identified in Bootes and 140 in the FLS, and their photometry is given. (K-[24]) colors are determined using K magnitudes from the 2MASS survey for all stars in order to search for excess 24 um luminosity compared to that arising from the stellar photosphere. Of the combined sample of 268 stars, 141 are of spectral types F, G, or K, and 17 of these 141 stars have 24 um excesses with (K-[24]) > 0.2 mag. Using limits on absolute magnitude derived from proper motions, at least 8 of the FGK stars with excesses are main sequence stars, and estimates derived from the distribution of apparent magnitudes indicate that all 17 are main sequence stars. These estimates lead to the conclusion that between 9% and 17% of the main sequence FGK field stars in these samples have 24 um infrared excesses. This result is statistically similar to the fraction of stars with debris disks found among previous Spitzer targeted observations of much brighter, main sequence field stars.

Gyrochronology and its usage for main sequence field star ages

AbstractThe construction of all age indicators consists of certain basic steps which lead to the identification of the properties desirable for stellar age indicators. Prior age indicators for main sequence field stars possess only some of these properties. The measured rotation periods of cool stars are particularly useful in this respect because they have well-defined dependencies that allow stellar ages to be determined with ~20% errors. This method, called gyrochronology, is explained informally in this talk, shown to have the desired properties, compared to prior methods, and used to derive ages for samples of main sequence field stars.

Ages for Illustrative Field Stars Using Gyrochronology: Viability, Limitations, and Errors

We here develop an improved way of using a rotating star as a clock, set it using the Sun, and demonstrate that it keeps time well. This technique, called gyrochronology, permits the derivation of ages for solar- and late-type main sequence stars using only their rotation periods and colors. The technique is clarified and developed here, and used to derive ages for illustrative groups of nearby, late-type field stars with measured rotation periods. We first demonstrate the reality of the interface sequence, the unifying feature of the rotational observations of cluster and field stars that makes the technique possible, and extends it beyond the proposal of Skumanich by specifying the mass dependence of rotation for these stars. We delineate which stars it cannot currently be used on. We then calibrate the age dependence using the Sun. The errors are propagated to understand their dependence on color and period. Representative age errors associated with the technique are estimated at ~15% (plus possible systematic errors) for late-F, G, K, & early-M stars. Ages derived via gyrochronology for the Mt. Wilson stars are shown to be in good agreement with chromospheric ages for all but the bluest stars, and probably superior. Gyro ages are then calculated for each of the active main sequence field stars studied by Strassmeier and collaborators where other ages are not available. These are shown to be mostly younger than 1Gyr, with a median age of 365Myr. The sample of single, late-type main sequence field stars assembled by Pizzolato and collaborators is then assessed, and shown to have gyro ages ranging from under 100Myr to several Gyr, and a median age of 1.2Gyr. Finally, we demonstrate that the individual components of the three wide binaries XiBooAB, 61CygAB, & AlphaCenAB yield substantially the same gyro ages.

New Debris Disks around Nearby Main‐Sequence Stars: Impact on the Direct Detection of Planets

Using the MIPS instrument on Spitzer, we have searched for infrared excesses around a sample of 82 stars, mostly F, G, and K main-sequence field stars, along with a small number of nearby M stars. These stars were selected for their suitability for future observations by a variety of planet-finding techniques. These observations provide information on the asteroidal and cometary material orbiting these stars, data that can be correlated with any planets that may eventually be found. We have found significant excess 70 μm emission toward 12 stars. Combined with an earlier study, we find an overall 70 μm excess detection rate of 13% ± 3% for mature cool stars. Unlike the trend for planets to be found preferentially toward stars with high metallicity, the incidence of debris disks is uncorrelated with metallicity. By newly identifying four of these stars as having weak 24 μm excesses (fluxes ~10% above the stellar photosphere), we confirm a trend found in earlier studies wherein a weak 24 μm excess is associated with a strong 70 μm excess. Interestingly, we find no evidence for debris disks around 23 stars cooler than K1, a result that is bolstered by a lack of excess around any of the 38 K1-M6 stars in two companion surveys. One motivation for this study is the fact that strong zodiacal emission can make it hard or impossible to detect planets directly with future observatories such as the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF). The observations reported here exclude a few stars with very high levels of emission, >1000 times the emission of our zodiacal cloud, from direct planet searches. For the remainder of the sample, we set relatively high limits on dust emission from asteroid belt counterparts.

Frequency of Debris Disks around Solar‐Type Stars: First Results from aSpitzerMIPS Survey

We have searched for infrared excesses around a well-defined sample of 69 FGK main-sequence field stars. These starswereselectedwithoutregardto theirage,metallicity,oranypreviousdetectionof IRexcess; they have amedian ageof � 4Gyr.Wehavedetected70 � mexcessesaroundsevenstarsatthe3 � confidencelevel.Thisextraemissionis produced by cool material (<100 K) located beyond 10 AU, well outside the ‘‘habitable zones’’ of these systems and consistent with the presence of Kuiper Belt analogs with � 100 times more emitting surface area than in our own planetary system. Only one star, HD 69830, shows excess emission at 24 � m, corresponding to dust with temperaturesk300Klocatedinsideof1AU.WhiledebrisdiskswithLdust/L? � 10 � 3 arerarearoundoldFGKstars,wefind that thediskfrequencyincreasesfrom2% � 2%forLdust/L? � 10 � 4 to12% � 5%forLdust/L? � 10 � 5 .Thistrendin the disk luminosity distribution is consistent with the estimated dust in our solar system being within an order of magnitude greater or less than the typical level around similar nearby stars. Although there is no correlation of IR excesswithmetallicity orspectraltype,there isaweak correlationwithstellarage,withstarsyoungerthanagigayear more likely to have excess emission.

Kinematics of Vega-like stars: Lifetimes and temporal evolution of circumstellar dust disks

We have used the velocity dispersion as an age indicator to constrain the ages of a large sample of main sequence Vega-like stars in order to study the lifetimes and temporal evolution of the dust disks around them. We use Hipparcos mea- surements to compute stellar velocities in the sky plane. The velocity dispersion of Vega-like stars is found to be systematically smaller than that of the normal main sequence field stars for all spectral types, suggesting that the main sequence dusty systems, on average, are younger than normal field stars. The debris disks seem to survive longer around late type stars as compared to early type stars. Further, we find a strong correlation between fractional dust luminosity ( fd ≡ Ldust/L� ) and velocity dispersion of stars with dust disks. Fractional dust luminosity is found to drop off steadily with increasing stellar age from early pre-main sequence phase to late main sequence phase.

A Large Stellar Evolution Database for Population Synthesis Studies. I. Scaled Solar Models and Isochrones

We present a large and updated stellar evolution database for low-, intermediate-, and high-mass stars in a wide metallicity range, suitable for studying Galactic and extragalactic simple and composite stellar populations using population synthesis techniques. The stellar mass range is between � 0.5 and 10 Mwith a fine mass spacing. The metallicity (Fe/H) comprises 10 values ranging from � 2.27 to 0.40, with a scaled solar metal distribution. The initial He mass fraction ranges from Y ¼ 0:245, for the more metal-poor composition, up to 0.303 for the more metal-rich one, with Y =Z � 1:4. For each adopted chemical composition, the evolutionary models have been computed without (canonical models) and with overshooting from the Schwarzschild boundary of the convective cores during the central H-burning phase. Semiconvection is included in the treatment of core convection during the He-burning phase. The whole set of evolutionary models can be used to compute isochrones in a wide age range, from � 30 Myr to � 15 Gyr. Both evolutionary models and isochrones are available in several observational planes, employing an updated set of bolometric corrections and color-TeA relations computed for this project. The number of points along the models and the resulting isochrones is selected in such a way that interpolation for intermediate metallicities not contained in the grid is straightforward; a simple quadratic interpolation produces results of sufficient accuracy for population synthesis applications.We compare our isochrones with results from a series of widely used stellar evolution databases and perform some empirical tests for the reliability of our models. Since this work is devoted to scaled solar chemical compositions, we focus our attention on the Galactic disk stellar populations, employing multicolor photometry of unevolved field main-sequence stars with precise Hipparcos parallaxes, well-studied open clusters, and one eclipsing binary system with precise measurements of masses, radii, and (Fe/H) of both components. We find that the predicted metallicity dependence of the location of the lower, unevolved main sequence in the color magnitude diagram (CMD) appears in satisfactory agreement with empirical data. When comparing our models with CMDs of selected, well-studied, open clusters, once again we were able to properly match the whole observed evolutionary sequences by assuming cluster distance and reddening estimates in satisfactory agreement with empirical evaluations of these quantities. In general, models including overshooting during the H-burning phase provide a better match to the observations, at least for ages below � 4 Gyr. At (Fe/H) around solar and higher ages (i.e., smaller convective cores) before the onset of radiative cores, the selected efficiency of core overshooting may be too high in our model, as well as in various other models in the literature. Since we also provide canonical models, the reader is strongly encouraged to always compare the results from both sets in this critical age range. Subject heading gs: galaxies: stellar content — Galaxy: disk — open clusters and associations: general — stars: evolution — stars: horizontal-branch

Population and dynamical state of the η Chamaeleontis sparse young open cluster

We report new results in our continuing study of the unique compact (1 pc extent), nearby (d = 97 pc), young (t = 9 Myr) stellar cluster dominated by the B9 star η Chamaeleontis. An optical photometric survey spanning 1.3 × 1.3 pc adds two M5‐M5.5 weak-lined T Tauri (WTT) stars to the cluster inventory which is likely to be significantly complete for primaries with masses M > 0.15 M� . The cluster now consists of 17 primaries and �9 secondaries lying within 100 au of their primaries. The apparent distribution of 9 :7:1 single : binary : triple systems shows 2‐4 times higher multiplicity than in the field main-sequence stars, and is comparable to that seen in other pre-main-sequence populations. The initial mass function (IMF) is consistent with that of rich young clusters and field stars. By extending the cluster IMF to lower masses, we predict 10 14

Lithium abundances for 185 main-sequence stars

We present a survey of lithium abundances in 185 main-sequence field stars with K and based on new measurements of the equivalent width of the Lii line in high-resolution spectra of 130 stars and a reanalysis of data for 55 stars from Lambert et al. ([CITE]). The survey takes advantage of improved photometric and spectroscopic determinations of effective temperature and metallicity as well as mass and age derived from Hipparcos absolute magnitudes, offering an opportunity to investigate the behaviour of Li as a function of these parameters. An interesting result from this study is the presence of a large gap in the plane, which distinguishes "Li-dip"stars like those first identified in the Hyades cluster by Boesgaard & Tripicco ([CITE]) from other stars with a much higher Li abundance. The Li-dip stars concentrate on a certain mass, which decreases with metallicity from about 1.4 at solar metallicity to 1.1 at . Excluding the Li-dip stars and a small group of lower mass stars with K and , the remaining stars, when divided into four metallicity groups, may show a correlation between Li abundance and stellar mass. The dispersion around the -mass relation is about 0.2 dex below and 0.3 dex above this metallicity, which cannot be explained by observational errors or differences in metallicity. Furthermore, there is no correlation between the residuals of the -mass relations and stellar age, which ranges from 1.5 Gyr to about 15 Gyr. This suggests that Li depletion occurs early in stellar life and that parameters other than stellar mass and metallicity affect the degree of depletion, e.g. initial rotation velocity and/or the rate of angular momentum loss. It cannot be excluded, however, that a cosmic scatter of the Li abundance in the Galaxy at a given metallicity contributes to the dispersion in Li abundance. These problems make it difficult to determine the Galactic evolution of Li from the data, but a comparison of the upper envelope of the distribution of stars in the plane with recent Galactic evolutionary models by Romano et al. ([CITE]) suggests that novae are a major source for the Li production in the Galactic disk; their occurrence seems to be the explanation for the steep increase of Li abundance at .

Binarity in the Orion Trapezium Cluster

We summarise the results of recent optical and near-infrared imaging studies of the binary fraction among young low-mass stars in the dense Orion Trapezium Cluster. Over the separation range ∼ 30–500 AU and within the observational errors, there appears to be no excess of binary systems in the cluster relative to the main sequence field star population. Over the separation range ∼ 1000–5000 AU, the cluster is deficient in binaries relative to the field. Both results are in contrast to those found for the more distributed population of young stars in the Taurus-Auriga dark clouds, which is overabundant in binaries by roughly a factor of two. We briefly discuss possible origins for this difference and observational tests which may distinguish between them, and the implications these results have for our understanding of the typical environment where most young stars are born.

UBVI CCD photometry of M11 — II. New photometry and surface density profiles

Extensive UBVI CCD photometry has been obtained for the intermediate-age open cluster M11 (NGC 6705). From this new photometry we derive the cluster parameters V0-MV = 11.55±0.10, E(B-V) = 0.428±0.027 and radius = 16 arcmin] and age (log tage = 8.4±0.1). We also derive density profiles and confirm the mass segregation in M11. The slope of the mass function increases systematically with increasing radius from the centre. We also confirm the existence of main-sequence field stars having similar photometric characteristics to M11. A large population of field red giant stars is also found in the observed fields.

Binary Stars in the Orion Trapezium Cluster Core

We have obtained high angular resolution (013 FWHM) near-infrared images of the central ~40'' × 40'' of the Trapezium cluster, using a speckle holography technique that we describe in detail. A search for close binary systems was made in Ks (2.16 μm) and H (1.65 μm) mosaic images, in which 45 and 35 stars were detected, respectively. The sensitivity limits for stellar detections are Ks 14.8 and H 14.9 over the whole mosaics and Ks 16.0 and H 15.9 for those regions of the mosaics where most data were accumulated, thus potentially including objects with substellar masses down to ~0.04 M☉. In total, four binary systems were identified with projected linear separations in the range of 014-05 (63-225 AU). The resulting binary fraction for low-mass pre-main-sequence stars is 5.9% ± 4.0%. This fraction agrees well with the binary frequency observed for main-sequence field stars, but is lower by a factor of ~3 than the fraction found from observations of young stars in Taurus-Auriga over the same range of separations. The difference in binary frequency between the core of the Trapezium cluster and the low-mass, low stellar density dark cloud Taurus-Auriga is established at a statistical significance level of 96% and suggests that binary frequencies are affected by the local star-forming environment. We show that the massive Trapezium star θ1 Ori A has a nearby companion separated by ~02 (~90 AU). The location of this companion is coincident, within the positional uncertainties, with a nonthermal and variable VLA radio source, which was previously associated with θ1 Ori A itself. We give H photometry for 32 stars, Ks photometry for 43 stars, and present a color-magnitude diagram for the Trapezium core.

Duplicity Among Young Stars in Chamaeleon

AbstractWe present infrared imaging results of young stars in Cha I and II clouds that show either extended structure or a nearby neighboring star. Both regions appear to show high incidence rates of pairs. After excluding possible background stars, as judged from their brightness, color, or the local stellar surface number density, a frequency of 10% is deduced for binaries in Cha I with separations 2-5″, which is comparable to that in Taurus and to that of main sequence field stars.

The lithium abundance of M67 blue stragglers - A constraint on the blue straggler phenomenon

Upper limits have been placed on the line strength of the 6707 A Li I resonance doublet in seven blue stragglers in M67. The corresponding upper limits on abundances range from log N(Li) less than about 1.3 to less than about 2.3. This result is significantly below the level of log N(Li) about 3.1 + or {minus} 0.1 found in field main-sequence stars of comparable temperature. It is concluded that some form of mixing has affected the outer envelopes of blue stragglers. (Such mixing has been proposed as the mechanism needed to prolong the lifetimes of blue stragglers relative to normal main-sequence stars at the same luminosity). Virtually all mechanisms for the production of blue stragglers other than mixing, binary mass transfer, or binary coalescence appear to be ruled out by the present observations. 45 refs.

Discovery of five pre-main-sequence binaries in Taurus

The progress of an infrared K band lunar occultation search for binaries among premain-sequence stars is reported. From the fall of 1986 to the fall of 1989, 13 objects have been observed, all in the Taurus star-forming region. Five new binaries have been discovered: DF Tau, DI Tau, FS Tau (Haro 6-5) A, FV Tau (Haro 6-8), and FW Tau, with projected separations ranging from 0.01 to 0.57 arcsec. Including results reported previously, a total of 31 objects, 21 in Taurus and 10 in Ophiuchus, have been surveyed and nine double systems have been found. The detected binary frequency (0.29) seems consistent with that of the solar-type main-sequence field stars.

ACTIVITY, METALLICITY, HELIUM, AND THE HYADES ANOMALY

ABSTRACT Stars in the Hyades cluster are compared with Coma cluster and main-sequence field stars to determine if the Hyades anomaly is truly a case of anomalous behavior. The difference in metallicity between the two clusters does not appear to account for the entire difference in the Stroemgren indices. It is shown that the levels of magnetic activity do not differ between the clusters and that activity is therefore not the culprit. It is harder to account for possible differences in helium abundance, and this problem is discussed.