Number of posts : 3337 Registration date : 2008-06-12
Subject: Spin-orbit alignment around hot and cool stars 7th January 2015, 5:44 pm
Mazeh et al. "Photometric Amplitude Distribution of Stellar Rotation of Kepler KOIs-Indication for Spin-Orbit Alignment of Cool Stars and High Obliquity for Hot Stars" http://arxiv.org/abs/1501.01288
Study of the KOIs confirms the trend that cool stars tend to have aligned systems, and hot stars tend to be misaligned. Interestingly the alignment for cool stars appears to extend to orbital periods as long as 50 days, for which tidal re-alignment (probably the leading explanation for the alignment trend) would not be very effective.
Sirius_Alpha Admin
Number of posts : 4320 Location : Earth Registration date : 2008-04-06
Subject: Re: Spin-orbit alignment around hot and cool stars 7th January 2015, 6:41 pm
Fascinating. So that would seem to be a strong argument against primordial misalignments and subsequent realignment being the norm.
_________________ Caps Lock: Cruise control for 'Cool'!