We present high-resolution spectroscopy of a sample of 24 solar-type stars
in the young (15-40 Myr), open cluster NGC 2547. We use our spectra to conf
irm cluster membership in 23 of these stars, to determine projected equator
ial velocities and chromospheric activity, and to search for the presence o
f accretion discs. We find examples of both fast (v(e) sin i > 50 km s(-1))
and slow (v(e) sin i < 10 km s(-1)) rotators, but no evidence for active a
ccretion in any of the sample. The distribution of projected rotation veloc
ities is indistinguishable from the slightly older IC 2391 and IC 2602 clus
ters, implying similar initial angular momentum distributions and circumste
llar disc lifetimes. The presence of very slow rotators indicates either th
at long (10-40 Myr) disc lifetimes or internal differential rotation are ne
eded, or that NGC 2547 (and IC 2391/2602) were born with more slowly rotati
ng stars than are presently seen in even younger clusters and associations.
The solar-type stars in NGC 2547 follow a similar rotation-activity relati
onship to that seen in older clusters. X-ray activity increases until a sat
uration level is reached for v(e) sin i > 15-20 km s(-1). We are unable to
explain why this saturation level, of log(LxLbol)similar or equal to-3.3, i
s a factor of 2 lower than in other clusters, but rule out anomalously slow
rotation rates or uncertainties in X-ray flux calculations.