Rotation and Activity in Mid‐M to L Field Dwarfs

Abstract

We analyze rotation velocities and chromospheric (H-alpha) activity, derived from multi-year, high-resolution spectra, in 56 mid-M to L dwarfs. Rotational velocities are found to increase from mid-M to L. This is consistent with a lengthening of spin-down timescale with later type, though in the L types the trend may also be a function of stellar age. From M5 to M8.5, a saturation-type rotation-activity relation is seen, similar to that in earlier types. However, the saturation velocity in our case is much higher, at about 12 km/s. A sharp drop in activity is observed at about M9, with later types showing little or no H-alpha emission, in spite of rapid rotation. This may be due to the very high resistivities in the predominantly neutral atmospheres of these cool objects.