  In the present study we analyze the behavior of the rotational velocity,
vsini, for a large sample of 134 spectroscopic binary systems with a giant star
component of luminosity class III, along the spectral region from middle F to
middle K. The distribution of vsini as a function of color index (B-V) seems to
follow the same behavior as their single counterparts, with a sudden decline
around G0III. Blueward of this spectral type, namely for binary systems with a
giant F-type component, one sees a trend for a large spread in the rotational
velocities, from a few km/s to at least 40km/s. Along the G and K spectral
regions there is a considerable number of binary systems with moderate to
moderately high rotation rates. This reflects the effects of synchronization
between rotation and orbital motions. These rotators have orbital periods
shorter than about 250 days and circular or nearly circular orbits. Except for
these synchronized systems, the large majority of binary systems with a giant
component of spectral type later than G0III are composed of slow rotators.

Astrophysics