RACE-OC Project: Rotation and variability in the open cluster M11 (NGC6705)

Abstract

Rotation and magnetic activity are intimately linked in main-sequence stars of G or later spectral types. The presence and level of magnetic activity depend on stellar rotation, and rotation itself is strongly influenced by strength and topology of the magnetic fields. Open clusters represent especially useful targets to investigate the rotation/activity/age connection. The open cluster M11 has been studied as a part of the RACE-OC project (Rotation and ACtivity Evolution in Open Clusters), which is aimed at exploring the evolution of rotation and magnetic activity in the late-type members of open clusters with different ages. Photometric observations of the open cluster M11 were carried out in June 2004 using LOAO 1m telescope. The rotation periods of the cluster members are determined by Fourier analysis of photometric data time series. We further investigated the relations between the surface activity, characterized by the light curve amplitude, and rotation. We have discovered a total of 75 periodic variables in the M11 FoV, of which 38 are candidate cluster members. Specifically, among cluster members we discovered 6 early-type, 2 eclipsing binaries and 30 bona-fide single periodic late-type variables. Considering the rotation periods of 16 G-type members of the almost coeval 200-Myr M34 cluster, we could determine the rotation period distribution from a more numerous sample of 46 single G stars at an age of about 200-230 Myr and determine a median rotation period P=4.8d. A comparison with the younger M35 cluster (~150 Myr) and with the older M37 cluster (~550 Myr) shows that G stars rotate slower than younger M35 stars and faster than older M37 stars. The measured variation of the median rotation period is consistent with the scenario of rotational braking of main-sequence spotted stars as they age.

Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics on Dec 15, 2009

References in corpus (9)

• The Monitor project: Rotation of low-mass stars in the open cluster NGC 2516
• Deep MMT Transit Survey of the Open Cluster M37 III: Stellar Rotation at 550 Myr
• Theoretical mass loss rates of cool main-sequence stars
• The Monitor project: Rotation of low-mass stars in the open cluster M34
• The Monitor project: Rotation of low-mass stars in the open cluster NGC 2547
• Exploring pre-main sequence variables of ONC: The new variables
• Variable Stars in the Open Cluster NGC 2099 (M37)
• RACE-OC Project: Rotation and variability in the open cluster NGC2099 (M37)
• Variable stars in the Open Cluster M11 (NGC 6705)

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