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Main Authors: Chiti, Federica, van Saders, Jennifer L., Heintz, Tyler M., Hermes, J. J., Ong, J. M. Joel, Hey, Daniel R., Ramirez-Weinhouse, Michele M., Dugas, Alison
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.12129
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author Chiti, Federica
van Saders, Jennifer L.
Heintz, Tyler M.
Hermes, J. J.
Ong, J. M. Joel
Hey, Daniel R.
Ramirez-Weinhouse, Michele M.
Dugas, Alison
author_facet Chiti, Federica
van Saders, Jennifer L.
Heintz, Tyler M.
Hermes, J. J.
Ong, J. M. Joel
Hey, Daniel R.
Ramirez-Weinhouse, Michele M.
Dugas, Alison
contents Gyrochronology, a valuable tool for determining ages of low-mass stars where other techniques fail, relies on accurate calibration. We present a sample of 185 wide ($>$$100$ au) white dwarf + main sequence (WD + MS) binaries. Total ages of WDs are computed using all-sky survey photometry, Gaia parallaxes, and WD atmosphere models. Using a magnetic braking law calibrated against open clusters, along with assumptions about initial conditions and angular momentum transport, we construct gyrochrones to predict the rotation periods of MS stars. Both data and models show that, at the fully convective boundary (FCB), MS stars with WD ages up to 7.5 Gyr and within a $<50$ K effective temperature range experience up to a threefold increase in rotation period relative to stars slightly cooler than the FCB. We suggest that rapid braking at this boundary is driven by a sharp rise in the convective overturn timescale ($τ_{\mathrm{cz}}$) caused by structural changes between partially and fully convective stars and the $^3 \textrm{He}$ instability occurring at this boundary. While the specific location in mass (or temperature) of this feature varies with model physics, we argue that its existence remains consistent. Stars along this feature exhibit rotation periods that can be mapped, within 1$σ$, to a range of gyrochrones spanning $\approx 6$ Gyr. Due to current temperature errors ($\simeq$$50$ K), this implies that a measured rotation period cannot be uniquely associated to a single gyrochrone, implying that gyrochronology may not be feasible for M dwarfs very close to the FCB.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_12129
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Rotation at the Fully Convective Boundary: Insights from Wide WD + MS Binary Systems
Chiti, Federica
van Saders, Jennifer L.
Heintz, Tyler M.
Hermes, J. J.
Ong, J. M. Joel
Hey, Daniel R.
Ramirez-Weinhouse, Michele M.
Dugas, Alison
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Gyrochronology, a valuable tool for determining ages of low-mass stars where other techniques fail, relies on accurate calibration. We present a sample of 185 wide ($>$$100$ au) white dwarf + main sequence (WD + MS) binaries. Total ages of WDs are computed using all-sky survey photometry, Gaia parallaxes, and WD atmosphere models. Using a magnetic braking law calibrated against open clusters, along with assumptions about initial conditions and angular momentum transport, we construct gyrochrones to predict the rotation periods of MS stars. Both data and models show that, at the fully convective boundary (FCB), MS stars with WD ages up to 7.5 Gyr and within a $<50$ K effective temperature range experience up to a threefold increase in rotation period relative to stars slightly cooler than the FCB. We suggest that rapid braking at this boundary is driven by a sharp rise in the convective overturn timescale ($τ_{\mathrm{cz}}$) caused by structural changes between partially and fully convective stars and the $^3 \textrm{He}$ instability occurring at this boundary. While the specific location in mass (or temperature) of this feature varies with model physics, we argue that its existence remains consistent. Stars along this feature exhibit rotation periods that can be mapped, within 1$σ$, to a range of gyrochrones spanning $\approx 6$ Gyr. Due to current temperature errors ($\simeq$$50$ K), this implies that a measured rotation period cannot be uniquely associated to a single gyrochrone, implying that gyrochronology may not be feasible for M dwarfs very close to the FCB.
title Rotation at the Fully Convective Boundary: Insights from Wide WD + MS Binary Systems
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.12129