Program: GS-2005B-C-2

A predictive theory of star formation will seek to determine the mass and angular momentum of a star for a given set of initial conditions. In low mass stars, the transfer of angular momentum from the disk to the star and the mechanism by which the star acquires its angular momentum is intimately connected to the magnetic coupling between the star and the disk as well as the stellar accretion process. The rotation statistics of young high mass stars suggest the possibility of a similar picture for higher mass stars. Here we propose to use high-resolution spectra of fundamental CO emission from Herbig Ae stars to probe the stellar accretion mechanism and the possibility of strong stellar magnetic fields among this higher mass population.