The extended Main Sequence Turn Off cluster NGC1856: rotational
  evolution in a coeval stellar ensemble
  Multiple or extended turnoffs in young clusters in the Magellanic Clouds have
recently received large attention. A number of studies have shown that they may
be interpreted as the result of a significant age spread (several 10^8yr in
clusters aged 1--2 Gyr), while others attribute them to a spread in stellar
rotation. We focus on the cluster NGC 1856, showing a splitting in the upper
part of the main sequence, well visible in the color m_{F336W}-m_{F555W}$, and
a very wide turnoff region. Using population synthesis available from the
Geneva stellar models, we show that the cluster data can be interpreted as
superposition of two main populations having the same age (~350Myr), composed
for 2/3 of very rapidly rotating stars, defining the upper turnoff region and
the redder main sequence, and for 1/3 of slowly/non-rotating stars. Since rapid
rotation is a common property of the B-A type stars, the main question raised
by this model concerns the origin of the slowly/non-rotating component. Binary
synchronization is a possible process behind the slowly/non-rotating
population; in this case, many slowly/non-rotating stars should still be part
of binary systems with orbital periods in the range from 4 to 500 days. Such
periods imply that Roche lobe overflow occurs, during the evolution of the
primary off the main sequence, so most primaries may not be able to ignite core
helium burning, consistently why the lack of a red clump progeny of the slowly
rotating population.
