Rotation-induced lithium depletion of solar-type stars in open stellar clusters

Abstract

We look for a correlation between Lithium abundance and rotation period in solar-type stars (G0... K0). The result is not unambiguous. Stars in young open clusters (IC 2391, IC 2602, IC 4665, α Per) do not show any correlation, in the Pleiades cluster a correlation is present: the faster the rotation the less the Lithium depletion. Moreover, there is statistical evidence, that at least in the Pleiades and in the α Persei cluster the abundance spread at fixed color in cool stars could be due to rotation. The use of the inverse Rossby number instead of the rotation rate does not improve on the Li-rotation correlation.