NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2007B-0225
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2007B-0225 |
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PI: Peter Allen, Pennsylvania State University, pallen@astro.psu.edu
Address: Astronomy Department, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
Title: Wide Ultracool Companions to Spectroscopic Binaries: Testing Star Formation Simulations
Abstract: The wide brown dwarf companion rate of spectroscopic binaries is predicted by certain star formation simulations to be considerably higher than that of single stars (10% versus 1-2%). I will test this hypothesis in a robust, statistically significant manner by measuring the wide brown dwarf binary rate of a large, volume-limited sample of 120 known spectroscopic binaries within 30 pc of the Sun. The primary measurement will be made through a common proper motion search with the 2MASS database serving as the first epoch and the proposed observations as the second epoch. The proposed observations will also serve as a first epoch for very faint companions not detected in 2MASS. This work will identify previously unknown nearby ultracool dwarfs, which are excellent targets for detailed follow-up observations.
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 > 2007B-0225 |
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