Identification of new low-mass members of the Alpha Persei open cluster by ROSAT. I

Following the work of Randich et al. (1996) involving a ROSAT raster scan survey of the α Persei open cluster, we present here the results of a photometric/spectroscopic program examining the possible optical counterparts to a group of 73 X‐ray sources in the raster survey which were not matched to catalogued stars. Of the 73 sources investigated, ∽ 40 have an optical counterpart with photometry acceptable for cluster membership and ∽ 20 of these also have radial velocities consistent with membership. We discuss the X‐ray properties of these potential new members and why they may not have been identified in earlier membership surveys of this cluster.