NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2002B-0165
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2002B-0165 |
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PI: Leslie Hebb, Johns Hopkins University, leslieh@pha.jhu.edu
Address: 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
CoI: R. Wyse, Johns Hopkins University
CoI: G. Gilmore, IoA, Univ of Cambridge
Title: Eclipsing M Dwarfs and the Low Mass Stellar M/L Ratio
Abstract:
We propose to survey a well selected sample of open clusters to
identify candidate eclipsing M-dwarfs through their relative light
variations. These clusters are of known distance, age, and metallicity
from their higher luminosity turn-off members. The candidate eclipsing
M-dwarfs will, with follow-up spectroscopy, be used to calibrate their
M/L ratio, as a function of age and metallicity. This is a fundamental,
but poorly constrained quantity for low mass stars. Side benefits of
our survey will include an improved knowledge of the binary fraction at
low masses, an important parameter in understanding star formation.
Further, we will obtain a high-quality set of CMDs, as a function of
location within a given cluster, to allow investigation of mass
segregation and dynamical evolution within open clusters.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2002B-0165 |
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