Additional measurements of pre-main-sequence stellar rotation

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Astron. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115033· OSTI ID:5899508

Hartmann, L; Stauffer, J R

New rotational-velocity measurements for pre-main-sequence stars in the Taurus-Auriga molecular cloud are reported. Rotational velocities or upper limits of 10 km/s are now available for 90 percent of the T Tauri stars with V less than 14.7 in the catalog of Cohen and Kuhi. Measurements of 'continuum emission' stars, thought to be accreting high-angular-momentum material from a circumstellar disk, show that these objects are not especially rapid rotators. The results confirm earlier findings that angular-momentum loss proceeds very efficiently in the earliest stages of star formation, and suggest that stars older than about one million yr contract to the main sequence at nearly constant angular momentum. The slow rotation of T Tauri stars probably requires substantial angular-momentum loss via a magnetically coupled wind. 35 references.

• Research Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (USA); Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (USA); NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5899508
• Journal Information: Astron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astron. J.; (United States) Vol. 97; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
ANGULAR VELOCITY
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
LIMITING VALUES
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MOLECULES
MOTION
ROTATION
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
T TAURI STARS
VARIABLE STARS
VELOCITY