NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0229
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0229 |
|
PI: Peter Allen, Pennsylvania State University, pallen@astro.psu.edu
Address: Astronomy Department, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA
CoI: Laird Close, University of Arizona
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%). We 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 2MASS serving as the first epoch and the proposed observations as the second epoch. These observations will also serve as a first epoch for very faint companions not detected in 2MASS. This work has identified previously unknown nearby cool dwarfs, which are excellent targets for detailed follow-up observations. This is a resubmission of two previous proposals (07A/B-0225), which found or confirmed 5 new M dwarf companions out of 77 fields observed, and the proposed observations will finish the northern sample.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0229 |
|