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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 August 2011
We combine photometric data from field stars, plus over a dozen open clusters and associations, to explore how the maximum photometric amplitude (Amax) and the distribution of amplitudes varies with stellar properties. We find a complex variation of Amax with inverse Rossby number Ro−1, which nevertheless can be modeled well with a simple model including an increase in Amax with rotation for low Ro−1, and a maximum level. Amax may then be further affected by differential rotation and a decline at the highest Ro−1. The distribution of Aspot below Amax varies with Ro−1 : it peaks at low Aspot with a long tail towards Amax for low Ro−1, but is more uniformly distributed at higher Ro−1. We investigate further dependences of the Aspot distributions on stellar properties, and speculate on the source of these variations.