Cause of discrepant projected rotation measurements

Determine whether the discrepant projected rotational velocities measured for Star 59 in Trumpler 14 are caused by binarity or represent genuine variation in the star’s measured rotation.

Background

Star 59, a Class III disk-bearing intermediate-mass member of Trumpler 14, has two substantially different reported projected rotational velocities: 383.2 km s−1 and 165 ± 24.75 km s−1. The paper notes that unresolved or known binarity could affect spectroscopic line broadening and therefore complicate the interpretation of projected rotation measurements.

Resolving the discrepancy is relevant because Star 59 is one of the few rapidly rotating disk-bearing objects and consequently affects the inferred relationship between disk retention and rotational braking.