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arXiv · 2606.14359

Gravity-mode main-sequence pulsators in the open clusters NGC 3532 and NGC 2516: Instability strip, near-core rotation, and internal structure

Gang Li·Chenyu He·Joey S. G. Mombarg·Dario J. Fritzewski·Conny Aerts
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Abstract

Context. Studying pulsating stars in clusters opens a new window onto stellar physics. Gravity-mode (g-mode) pulsators in open clusters allow us to measure their near-core rotation rates and, together with cluster age and mass constraints, test angular momentum transport in stars above about 1.5 solar masses. Aims. We aim to detect g-mode pulsations in member stars of the young open cluster NGC 3532, about 300 Myr old, and to measure their near-core rotation rates and internal properties. Methods. We used TESS photometry to extract light curves of NGC 3532 members. The observed g-mode period spacings allow us to measure near-core rotation rates and the asymptotic period spacing, Pi0. We also fitted isochrones to the colour-magnitude diagrams of NGC 3532 and NGC 2516 to refine the cluster ages and obtain stellar masses. Results. We constrain the observed instability region of young gamma Doradus members from a blue edge at about 7760 K to a red edge at about 7070 K, while some hotter g-mode pulsators are also seen. The near-core rotation rates show a rotation-mass relation similar to that in NGC 2516: below 1.6 solar masses, the rotation rate increases with mass, whereas above 1.6 solar masses the NGC 3532 stars reach a plateau at about 2.8 d^-1. This mass may mark a threshold between different rotational spin-down mechanisms. Existing evolutionary models with angular momentum transport imply that these g-mode pulsators were born rotating above 55 percent of the critical value. Our simplified models, assuming spherical symmetry, angular momentum conservation, and rigid internal rotation, suggest that either mass-dependent initial rotation rates are required, or that minor angular momentum loss still operates above 1.6 solar masses. Finally, our Pi0 measurements reveal a discrepancy with theoretical predictions for some pulsators, as also found in the younger cluster NGC 2516.

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Gang Li, Chenyu He, Joey S. G. Mombarg, Dario J. Fritzewski, Conny Aerts. 2026-06-12. Gravity-mode main-sequence pulsators in the open clusters NGC 3532 and NGC 2516: Instability strip, near-core rotation, and internal structure. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.14359

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