Stellar masses are a fundamental property to understand models of pre-main sequence evolution, but their values derived from Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagrams are strongly model dependent. We benchmark pre-main sequence stellar evolutionary tracks using stellar masses dynamically estimated by fitting a parametric model to ALMA observations of the 12CO (J = 3 - 2) line transition emitted by the disks orbiting 20 sources in the old (4 - 14 Myr) Upper Scorpius star forming region. We derive stellar masses from HR diagram fitting for ten different stellar evolutionary models, which we then compare with their stellar dynamical masses for comparison in the stellar mass range 0.1 - 1.3 M circle dot. Models with a moderate-to-low fraction of cold stellar spots (f = 17%) most accurately reproduce the dynamical stellar masses (100% of the targets agree within +/- 1 sigma). While a higher spot coverage (f = 34%) provides similar stellar mass predictions similar to magnetic equipartition models, larger fractions (f >= 51%) significantly disagree with dynamical masses. Magnetic equipartition models overestimate stellar masses up to a factor similar to 20%, whereas non-magnetic models underestimate them up to similar to 12%. For some models, there is evidence that the stellar mass discrepancies are anticorrelated with dynamical stellar masses. When stellar dynamical mass priors are considered in HR diagram fitting, the median age of a single source can change up to similar to 25%, while the median ages inferred across different tracks become consistent, with the age scatter decreasing by greater than or similar to 77%. These results provide strong empirical constraints for testing and developing evolutionary models of pre-main sequence stars.

Benchmarking pre-main sequence stellar evolutionary tracks using disk-based dynamical stellar masses / L. Zallio, M. Vioque, S.M. Andrews, A. Empey, G.P. Rosotti, A. Miotello, C.F. Manara, J.M. Carpenter, D. Deng, N.T. Kurtovic, C.J. Law, C. Longarini, T. Paneque-Carreño, R. Teague, M. Villenave, H. Yen, F. Zagaria. - In: ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS. - ISSN 0004-6361. - 708:(2026 Apr), pp. L1.1-L1.10. [10.1051/0004-6361/202558147]

Benchmarking pre-main sequence stellar evolutionary tracks using disk-based dynamical stellar masses

L. Zallio
Primo
;
G.P. Rosotti;C. Longarini;M. Villenave;
2026

Abstract

Stellar masses are a fundamental property to understand models of pre-main sequence evolution, but their values derived from Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagrams are strongly model dependent. We benchmark pre-main sequence stellar evolutionary tracks using stellar masses dynamically estimated by fitting a parametric model to ALMA observations of the 12CO (J = 3 - 2) line transition emitted by the disks orbiting 20 sources in the old (4 - 14 Myr) Upper Scorpius star forming region. We derive stellar masses from HR diagram fitting for ten different stellar evolutionary models, which we then compare with their stellar dynamical masses for comparison in the stellar mass range 0.1 - 1.3 M circle dot. Models with a moderate-to-low fraction of cold stellar spots (f = 17%) most accurately reproduce the dynamical stellar masses (100% of the targets agree within +/- 1 sigma). While a higher spot coverage (f = 34%) provides similar stellar mass predictions similar to magnetic equipartition models, larger fractions (f >= 51%) significantly disagree with dynamical masses. Magnetic equipartition models overestimate stellar masses up to a factor similar to 20%, whereas non-magnetic models underestimate them up to similar to 12%. For some models, there is evidence that the stellar mass discrepancies are anticorrelated with dynamical stellar masses. When stellar dynamical mass priors are considered in HR diagram fitting, the median age of a single source can change up to similar to 25%, while the median ages inferred across different tracks become consistent, with the age scatter decreasing by greater than or similar to 77%. These results provide strong empirical constraints for testing and developing evolutionary models of pre-main sequence stars.
stars: general; Hertzsprung-Russell and C-M diagrams; planetary systems; stars: pre-main sequence; stars: protostars; starspots;
Settore PHYS-05/A - Astrofisica, cosmologia e scienza dello spazio
   Rebuilding the foundations of planet formation: proto-planetary disc evolution (DiscEvol)
   DiscEvol
   EUROPEAN COMMISSION
   101039651

   A new window into planet formation: disc kinematics
   FONDAZIONE CARIPLO
   ID Progetto 2022-1217

   Winds ANd Disk structures near and Afar
   WANDA
   European Commission
   Horizon Europe Framework Programme - European Research Council - HORIZON ERC Grants
   101039452
apr-2026
25-mar-2026
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/1233076
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