  Observational and theoretical investigations provide evidence for non-uniform
spot and magnetic flux distributions on rapidly rotating stars, which have a
significant impact on their angular momentum loss rate through magnetised
winds. Supplementing the formalism of MacGregor & Brenner (1991) with a
latitude-dependent magnetised wind model, we analyse the effect of analytically
prescribed surface distributions of open magnetic flux with different shapes
and degrees of non-uniformity on the rotational evolution of a solar-like star.
The angular momentum redistribution inside the star is treated in a qualitative
way, assuming an angular momentum transfer between the rigidly-rotating
radiative and convective zones on a constant coupling timescale of 15 Myr; for
the sake of simplicity we disregard interactions with circumstellar disks. We
find that non-uniform flux distributions entail rotational histories which
differ significantly from those of classical approaches, with differences
cumulating up to 200% during the main sequence phase. Their impact is able to
mimic deviations of the dynamo efficiency from linearity of up to 40% and
nominal dynamo saturation limits at about 35 times the solar rotation rate.
Concentrations of open magnetic flux at high latitudes thus assist in the
formation of very rapidly rotating stars in young open clusters, and ease the
necessity for a dynamo saturation at small rotation rates. However, since our
results show that even minor amounts of open flux at intermediate latitudes, as
observed with Zeeman-Doppler imaging techniques, are sufficient to moderate
this reduction of the AM loss rate, we suggest that non-uniform flux
distributions are a complementary rather than an alternative explanation for
very rapid stellar rotation.
