Asteroseismic detection of latitudinal differential rotation in 13 Sun-like stars

TL;DR

This study uses asteroseismology to measure latitudinal differential rotation in 40 Sun-like stars, revealing that their equators often rotate about twice as fast as mid-latitudes, with shear larger than models predict.

Contribution

First measurement of latitudinal differential rotation in Sun-like stars using asteroseismology, providing new insights into stellar rotation dynamics.

Findings

Equators rotate approximately twice as fast as mid-latitudes.

Latitudinal shear is larger than numerical simulation predictions.

Detected differential rotation in 40 stars.

Abstract

The differentially rotating outer layers of stars are thought to play a role in driving their magnetic activity, but the underlying mechanisms that generate and sustain differential rotation are poorly understood. We report the measurement of latitudinal differential rotation in the convection zones of 40 Sun-like stars using asteroseismology. For the most significant detections, the stars' equators rotate approximately twice as fast as their mid-latitudes. The latitudinal shear inferred from asteroseismology is much larger than predictions from numerical simulations.