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Presentation
Testing the Stellar Rotation vs. Age Paradigm Using Wide Binaries in the Kepler & K2 Fields
Publications
  • T. D. Oswalt, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • T. Otani, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • A. Stone-Martinez, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • P. Majewski, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • D. Buzasi, Florida Gulf Coast University
Submitting Campus
Daytona Beach
Department
Physical Sciences
Document Type
Presentation without Video
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2017
Abstract/Description

Essential to understanding the history of the Galaxy’s stellar populations, ages are among the most difficult to measure properties of stars. Accurate stellar ages would provide key leverage on problems ranging from the habitability of exoplanets to the Galaxy’s chemical evolution and age. Gyrochronology, the empirical relation between rotation and age, is believed to be among the best current methods of stellar age determination. Using several hundred wide non-interacting binaries identified in the Kepler mission “K2” extended mission fields we are testing this paradigm. Such wide pairs afford a unique opportunity to unravel and calibrate the effects of mass, rotation, activity and age because components of a given binary should have rotation and activity levels consistent with their masses and a common age. We present preliminary results for several dozen wide pairs in which both components exhibit detectable rotational modulation.

Grant or Award Name
NSF AST-0807919, AST-1358787, PHY-1358879; NASA NNX15AV60G, NNX15_005
Citation Information
T. D. Oswalt, T. Otani, A. Stone-Martinez, P. Majewski, et al.. "Testing the Stellar Rotation vs. Age Paradigm Using Wide Binaries in the Kepler & K2 Fields" (2017)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/terry_d_oswalt/75/