Kepler’s eye on stellar spin-down
Jennifer van Saders (Carnegie Observatories), Travis Metcalfe (Space Science Institute), Orlagh Creevey (Université de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS), Rafael Garcia (Laboratoire AIM, CEA/DRF – CNRS ), Marc Pinsonneault (Ohio State University), et al.

Rotation is a ubiquitous feature of stellar populations, and has the potential to be a powerful tool in the study of stellar systems. Kepler and K2 data now make it possible to combine cluster, field, and asteroseismic datasets for a unique view into the physics of stellar angular momentum evolution, and to better refine rotation-based tools, such as gyrochronology. I will present updated results regarding the observed anomalously rapid rotation in old Kepler asteroseismic targets: we have doubled the sample of well-modeled asteroseismic target stars used in the previous analysis, and tested our conclusions against new data from K2 observations of the open cluster M67. Both the cluster and astereoseismic data support the presence weakened magnetic braking in old and intermediate age stars, a result that has implications for both the underlying physical mechanisms of angular momentum loss and the use of rotation as a tool to measure ages. I will discuss prospects for further testing this physical model in future missions, both with seismic targets and large field samples of rotation periods.