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At least 19 records

SDSS-IV MaNGA: stellar rotational support in disc galaxies versus central surface density and stellar population age

ABSTRACT We investigate how the stellar rotational support changes as a function of spatially resolved stellar population age ($D_n4000$) and relative central stellar surface density ($\Delta \Sigma _1$) for MaNGA isolated/central disc galaxies. We find that the galaxy rotational support indicator $\lambda _{R_\mathrm{e}}$ varies smoothly as a function of $\Delta \Sigma _1$ and $D_n4000$. $D_n4000$ versus $\Delta \Sigma _1$ follows a ‘J-shape’, with $\lambda _{R_\mathrm{e}}$ contributing to the scatters. In this ‘J-shaped’ pattern rotational support increases with central $D_n4000$ when $\Delta \Sigma _1$ is low but decreases with $\Delta \Sigma _1$ when $\Delta \Sigma _1$ is high. Restricting attention to low-$\Delta \Sigma _1$ (i.e. large-radius) galaxies, we suggest that the trend of increasing rotational support with $D_n4000$ for these objects is produced by a mix of two different processes, a primary trend characterized by growth in $\lambda _{R_\mathrm{e}}$ along with mass through gas accretion, on top of which disturbance episodes are overlaid, which reduce rotational support and trigger increased star formation. An additional finding is that star-forming galaxies with low $\Delta \Sigma _1$ have relatively larger radii than galaxies with higher $\Delta \Sigma _1$ at fixed stellar mass. Assuming that these relative radii rankings are preserved while galaxies are star forming then implies clear evolutionary paths in central $D_n4000$ versus $\Delta \Sigma _1$. The paper closes with comments on the implications that these paths have for the evolution of pseudo-bulges versus classical bulges. The utility of using $\rm D_n4000$–$\Delta \Sigma _1$ to study $\lambda _{R_\mathrm{e}}$ reinforces the notion that galaxy kinematics correlate both with structure and with stellar-population state, and indicates the importance of a multidimensional description for understanding bulge and galaxy evolution.

Wang, Xiaohan (ORCID:0009000283121002)↗

Stellar Rotation of T Tauri Stars in the Orion Star-forming Complex

We present a large-scale study of stellar rotation for T Tauri stars in the Orion star-forming complex. We use the projected rotational velocity ($v\sin (i)$) estimations reported by the APOGEE-2 collaboration as well as individual masses and ages derived from the position of the stars in the HR diagram, considering Gaia-EDR3 parallaxes and photometry plus diverse evolutionary models. We find an empirical trend for $v\sin (i)$ decreasing with age for low-mass stars (0.4M ⊙ < M $\star$ < 1.2M ⊙ ). Our results support the existence of a mechanism linking $v\sin (i)$ to the presence of accreting protoplanetary disks, responsible for regulating stellar rotation on timescales of about 6 Myr, which is the timescale in which most of the T Tauri stars lose their inner disk. Our results provide important constraints to models of rotation in the early phases of evolution of young stars and their disks.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Adiabatic growth of a black hole in a rotating stellar system

The consequences of slowly adding a massive black hole to the center of a rotating stellar system are considered. Although both the rotation velocity V and the velocity dispersion sigma increase when the black hole is added, the rotation velocity increases faster. The effect goes in the right direction but is too gradual to explain the V/sigma profiles recently observed in several galactic nuclei.

Lee, Man Hoi↗

KELT-9 b's Asymmetric TESS Transit Caused by Rapid Stellar Rotation and Spin-Orbit Misalignment

KELT-9 b is an ultra-hot Jupiter transiting a rapidly rotating, oblate early-A-type star in a polar orbit. We model the effect of rapid stellar rotation on KELT-9 b’s transit light curve using photometry from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite to constrain the planet’s true spin–orbit angle and to explore how KELT-9 b may be influenced by stellar gravity darkening. We constrain the host star’s equatorial radius to be 1.089±0.017 times as large as its polar radius and its local surface brightness to vary by∼38% between its hot poles and cooler equator. We model the stellar oblateness and surface brightness gradient and find that it causes the transit light curve to lack the usual symmetry around the time of minimum light. We take advantage of the light-curve asymmetry to constrain KELT-9b’s true spin–orbit angle (87degree+ -10degrees/-11degrees), agreeing with Gaudi et al. that KELT-9 b is in a nearly polar orbit. We also apply a gravity-darkening correction to the spectral energy distribution model from Gaudi et al. and find that accounting for rapid rotation gives a better fit to available spectroscopy and yields a more reliable estimate for the star’s polar effective temperature.

Exoplanets↗

KELT-9 b’s Asymmetric TESS Transit Caused by Rapid Stellar Rotation and Spin–Orbit Misalignment

KELT-9 b is an ultra-hot Jupiter transiting a rapidly rotating, oblate early-A-type star in a polar orbit. We model the effect of rapid stellar rotation on KELT-9 b’s transit light curve using photometry from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite to constrain the planet’s true spin–orbit angle and to explore how KELT-9 b may be influenced by stellar gravity darkening. We constrain the host star’s equatorial radius to be 1.089 ± 0.017 times as large as its polar radius and its local surface brightness to vary by ∼38% between its hot poles and cooler equator. We model the stellar oblateness and surface brightness gradient and find that it causes the transit light curve to lack the usual symmetry around the time of minimum light. We take advantage of the light-curve asymmetry to constrain KELT-9 b’s true spin–orbit angle (87{sup ∘}{sub −11{sup ∘+10{sup {sup ∘}}}}), agreeing with Gaudi et al. that KELT-9 b is in a nearly polar orbit. We also apply a gravity-darkening correction to the spectral energy distribution model from Gaudi et al. and find that accounting for rapid rotation gives a better fit to available spectroscopy and yields a more reliable estimate for the star’s polar effective temperature.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Solar calibration of stellar rotation tracers

A study of the time variability of the disk-integrated solar magnetic flux, with a view to the behavior of emission-line intensity variations observed in lower main sequence stars, has determined that solar rotation modulation of the integrated flux is present in 75% of all rotations. For observing intervals of more than twice the lifetime of the features causing rotational modulation, the correct rotation period is identified in more than 90% of all cases. The optimum time for measuring rotational modulation is the decay phase of the activity cycle, and the solar rotation period is measured with an accuracy of a few percent. The lifetime of a rotational modulation period is approximately five rotations, and a sensitivity limit of Delta S= 0.005 is found for the Vaughan et al (1981) stellar rotation measures.

Labonte, B. J.↗

Stellar rotation and the thermomagnetic torque

It is noted that any reasonable assumption for the rotation rates of the interstellar clouds which must collapse to produce stars will result in stars which rotate much faster than suggested by observations if angular momentum is conserved throughout the collapse. The contribution of thermomagnetic torque, which can exist when a rarefied gas of polyatomic molecules is subjected to a magnetic field and a nonuniform temperature gradient, to the angular momentum of a collapsing protostellar object is examined in order to determine whether the magnitude of this torque is sufficient to slow down contracting protostellar clouds. Calculations are performed for two times during protostellar collapse when conditions may be favorable for thermomagnetic torque to play a role in angular-momentum considerations. The results indicate that this torque is apparently of no importance in determining or modifying stellar rotation during the early stages of stellar evolution.

Spear, G. G.↗

On the Maximum Stellar Rotation to Form a Black Hole without an Accompanying Luminous Transient

The collapse of a massive star with low angular momentum content is commonly argued to result in the formation of a black hole without an accompanying bright transient. Our goal in this Letter is to understand the flow in and around a newly-formed black hole, involving accretion and rotation, via general relativistic hydrodynamics simulations aimed at studying the conditions under which infalling material can accrete without forming a centrifugally supported structure and, as a result, generate no effective feedback. If the feedback from the black hole is, on the other hand, significant, the collapse would be halted and we suggest that the event is likely to be followed by a bright transient. We find that feedback is only efficient if the specific angular momentum of the infalling material at the innermost stable circular orbit exceeds that of geodesic circular flow at that radius by at least≈20%. We use the results of our simulations to constrain the maximal stellar rotation rates of the disappearing massive progenitors PHL293B-LBV and N6946-BH1, and to provide an estimate of the overall rate of disappearing massive stars. We find that about a few percent of single O-type stars with measured rotational velocities are expected to spin below the critical value before collapse and are thus predicted to vanish without a trace.

Scott C Noble↗

Stellar multiplicity and stellar rotation: insights from APOGEE

ABSTRACT We measure rotational broadening in spectra taken by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey to characterize the relationship between stellar multiplicity and rotation. We create a sample of 2786 giants and 24 496 dwarfs with stellar parameters and multiple radial velocities from the APOGEE pipeline, projected rotation speeds vsin i determined from our own pipeline, and distances, masses, and ages measured by Sanders & Das. We use the statistical distribution of the maximum shift in the radial velocities, ΔRVmax, as a proxy for the close binary fraction to explore the interplay between stellar evolution, rotation, and multiplicity. Assuming that the minimum orbital period allowed is the critical period for Roche Lobe overflow and rotational synchronization, we calculate theoretical upper limits on expected vsin i and ΔRVmax values. These expectations agree with the positive correlation between the maximum ΔRVmax and vsin i values observed in our sample as a function of log(g). We find that the fast rotators in our sample have a high occurrence of short-period [log(P/d) ≲ 4] companions. We also find that old, rapidly rotating main-sequence stars have larger completeness-corrected close binary fractions than their younger peers. Furthermore, rapidly rotating stars with large ΔRVmax consistently show differences of 1–10 Gyr between the predicted gyrochronological and measured isochronal ages. These results point towards a link between rapid rotation and close binarity through tidal interactions. We conclude that stellar rotation is strongly correlated with stellar multiplicity in the field, and caution should be taken in the application of gyrochronology relations to cool stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Relations among stellar X-ray emission observed from Einstein, stellar rotation and bolometric luminosity

The correlation between observed stellar X-ray luminosities, bolometric luminosities, and projected rotational velocities for stars of various spectral types and luminosity classes are determined. Early type stars (O3 to A5) have X-ray luminosities independent of rotational velocities, and correlating with bolometric luminosities. Late type stars of spectral type G to M have luminosities well correlated to equatorial rotational velocities, and are independent of luminosity class. The dependence of late type stars is found to be equivalent to a relation between the X-ray surface flux and the stellar angular velocity. F stars are intermediate with X-ray luminosities higher than would be predicted on the basis of the early type star relation, although lower than expected from the late type velocity dependence. The location of RS CVn stars as a class is also discussed, and it is found that the heating of late type stellar coronas does not result from direct conversion of ratational energy.

Pallavicini, R.↗

On the relationship between stellar rotation and radius in young clusters

We examine the early angular momentum history of stars in young clusters. We reported based on 197 photometric periods in the Orion Flanking Fields and 83 photometric periods in the NGC 2264, that PMS stars apparently do not conserve stellar angular momentum as they evolve down their connective tracks, but instead evolve at nearly constant angular velocity.

stellar rotation angular momentum clusters stars↗

Spiral ARMS in Galaxies with Counter-Rotating Stellar Disks

Spectroscopic observations by Rubin and other indicate that the S type galaxies NGC 4550, NGC 7217, and NGC 4138 have two-way disks with a substantial portion of the stellar disk orbiting opposite the direction of the rest...However, in 1978, Zang and Hohl found via simulations that one-fold instabilities were enhanced in a two-way disk with no halo...Using a self-gravitating disk with a flat rotation curve, we redo Zang and Hohl's isolated simulations but with more particles plus varying amounts of an inert halo component.

S type galaxies NGC 4550 NGC 7217 NGC 4138 stellar↗