Lamm, Markus

Contact Email: lamm@mpia.de
Institute: Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie,
Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
First Coauthor: Reinhard Mundt,
Institute: Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
Second Coauthor: Coryn A.L. Bailer-Jones
Institute: Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
Presenting Thesis: Yes
Subject Area: Star Formation, Very Young Stars, T-Tauri, H-H Objects
Waveband: Optical
Technique: Photometry
Presentation: Poster Display
Title: Variability and Rotation of Pre-Main Sequence (PMS) Stars in NGC2264
Abstract: For a variability and rotational period study of the PMS stars in the young (2-4 Myr) open cluster NGC 2264 we have carried out I band observations over a period of more than two months using the Wide Field Imager attached on the MPG/ESO 2.2m telescope (field size 32'x34'). Our data allow us to measure stars of $\approx$21.5 mag with a 10 $\sigma$ accuracy (and with a 50 $\sigma$ accuracy at I $\approx$ 19.7). We intend to determine the rotational periods of PMS stars in NGC 2264 down to at least the substellar mass limit (at I $\approx$18.5 mag) by analysing the periodic light modulations caused by stellar spots. The obtained period distribution will be compared with literature data on younger and older clusters and will allow us to investigate the rotational period evolution. About 210 PMS stars are currently known in the imaged area and we expect to increase this number significantly with our data, since we will analyse all stars in our field for variability. First results on the search for new PMS variables and period determinations of PMS stars will be presented (collaborators: W. Herbst, Weleyan Univ., and A. Scholz, Tautenburg Obs.).