The impact of companions on the rotation of Praesepe early M dwarfs
Abstract
Binary companions likely affect stellar rotational evolution via tides (for close binaries) and disruption of the protoplanetary disk (out to at least 5 to 80 AU). However, models of angular momentum evolution assume that all stars are single, and tidal models for solar-type stars cannot explain the handful of existing observations. Binary surveys in open clusters are woefully incomplete, particularly for K and M stars and stars with measured rotation periods. We have surveyed 51 M0-M1 members of the Praesepe open cluster using adaptive optics and non-redundant aperture masking at Keck II. All of our targets already have rotation period measurements. We detect 19 companions and 5 probable chance alignments from our core sample and combine these with other surveys to examine the impact of companions on the rotation distribution in Praesepe. We present preliminary results showing that rapid rotators tend to have companions within 80 AU, in agreement with other recent surveys.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #235
- Pub Date:
- January 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AAS...23525608D