Survey of extended Main Sequence Turn-offs in Galactic Open Clusters: Stellar rotations from Gaia RVS spectra

TL;DR

This study uses Gaia DR3 data to analyze extended main-sequence turn-offs in young Galactic open clusters, revealing the significant role of stellar rotation in their morphology and implications for age determination.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a single population with high stellar rotation can explain eMSTO features, challenging previous assumptions of non-rotating star populations in young clusters.

Findings

Positive correlation between turn-off color and stellar rotation.

eMSTO morphology explained by high rotation rates and inclination effects.

Caution advised in age estimates neglecting stellar rotation effects.

Abstract

The origin of extended main-sequence turn-offs (eMSTO) in star clusters younger than 2 Gyr still challenges our current understanding of stellar evolution. Exploiting data from Gaia Data Release 3 (DR3), we investigate eMSTOs in a large sample of 32 Galactic open clusters younger than 2.4 Gyr. We first validate Gaia rotational velocities from Radial Velocity Spectrometer (RVS) spectra by comparing them with literature values and assessing their correlation with magnetic activity measurements from LAMOST spectra. We detect a general positive correlation between turn-off color and projected stellar rotation, with slow-rotating stars predominantly found on the bluer side of the turn-off. Comparing our observations with theoretical models, we find that the eMSTO morphology is well-reproduced by a single population formed with a high rotation rate, and observed with rotation axis inclination ranging between 0$^\circ$ (pole-on) and 90$^\circ$ (edge-on). This contrasts with observations of Magellanic Clouds clusters, where a population of non-rotating stars appears to be ubiquitous in clusters younger than 700 Myr. However, we note that our interpretation, while successfully explaining the overall eMSTO morphology, cannot fully explain the observed projected rotational velocities. Additionally, two young clusters, NGC 3532 and NGC 2287, exhibit moderate evidence of a split main sequence in color and rotation, suggesting a possible small spread in the initial rotation rate. Finally, we advise caution in determining the ages of young clusters from non-rotating isochrones, as neglecting the effects of stellar rotation can impact the isochrone dating by up to factors of 5-20%.