NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0420
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0420 |
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PI: Gaspard Duchene, UC Berkeley (Astronomy), gduchene@berkeley.edu
Address: Department of Astronomy, 601 Campbell Hall #3411, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3411, USA
CoI: Serge Correia, Astr. Inst. Potsdam (AIP)
CoI: Hans Zinnecker, Astr. Inst. Potsdam (AIP)
Title: The physical properties of visual binaries in the Orion Nebula Cluster
Abstract:
We propose to conduct a near-infrared spectroscopic and photometric survey of
tight (<1.3") pre-main sequence binaries in the Orion Nebula Cluster using
the ALTAIR AO system to follow-up on HST-discovered systems. Our primary
objective is to assess which component(s) of the system possess a
circumstellar disk that could provide fertile grounds for planet formation
and whether the disk lifetime is related to the total mass of the system
and/or mass ratio of the binary. Long thought to be rare if not impossible,
planet formation in binary systems is now known to occur at an appreciable
rate. Most of our current knowledge of the initial conditions for planet
formation in binaries is dominated by nearby associations such as Taurus and
Ophiuchus. However, the primary mode of star (and planet) formation is in
rich clusters, such as the ONC. Our proposed survey will therefore shade the
first light on the initial condition for planet formation in a more typical
environment. Furthermore, it will offer an important sample to compare to
observations of other star-forming regions (testing the sensitivity of star
formation to environment) as well as to the population of mature extrasolar
systems (testing planet formation theories).
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 > 2010B-0420 |
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