Lithium Depletion Boundary Ages of Young Stars: Inconsistencies in Pre-Main Sequence Models. Issue Volume 10:Issue S314(2015) (November 2015) - Song, Inseok
Abstract: For proper interpretations of various phenomena in young stars and planetary systems, knowledge of accurate stellar ages is very important. Among a handful of age dating methods commonly used for young (≲500 Myr) stars, lithium depletion boundary (LDB) ages have recently become the most cited and accepted age estimates. However, because of inconsistencies in theoretical evolutionary models, especially for lithium depletion calculations, one has to be cautious in using LDB ages. For a given luminosity, the lithium depletion process is too slow, causing LDB ages to appear older. Various stellar processes affect the surface lithium abundance, and these effects include star spots, accretion history, and magnetic fields. Until we have a self-consistent theoretical evolutionary model for young stars including all relevant stellar effects, caution should be taken when LDB ages are used.