[150.02] A new scenario for the rotational evolution of solar- and late-type stars

AAS 205th Meeting, 9-13 January 2005
Session 150 Science with Small Telescope from SMARTS
Poster, Thursday, January 13, 2005, 9:20am-4:00pm, Exhibit Hall

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[150.02] A new scenario for the rotational evolution of solar- and late-type stars

S. A. Barnes (Lowell Observatory)

We have identified age- and mass-dependent patterns in the rotation periods of solar- and late-type stars in clusters and in the field.

These patterns are distinct enough to allow age determination, even of single field stars, via ``gyrochronology."

The underlying dependences suggest a scenario for the rotational evolution of stars that is primarily magnetic, suggesting a preferred origin for the fields, and involving an early transition from a distributed dynamo to one of the interface variety.

(We gratefully acknowledge funding from NSF and telescope time from SMARTS.)

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: barnes@lowell.edu

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