astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...

, the Kraft break refers to the abrupt decrease in

star A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by its gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked ...

s' average rotation rates at surface temperatures of about 6200 kelvin. The so-called ''break'' bears the name of astronomer Robert Kraft, though its existence was recognized prior to his publications on the topic. The break is understood to separate stars with deep convective envelopes and efficient magnetic dynamos from those without. The dynamos are thought to maintain magnetic fields that transfer angular momentum to the stellar wind, thus slowing down the star's surface through magnetic braking. In hot stars the process is less efficient (because the convective envelopes are shallow) so the stars continue to rotate quickly.

References

Stellar astronomy {{astronomy-stub