NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011A-0131
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011A-0131 |
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PI: Kevin Luhman, Penn State University, kluhman@astro.psu.edu
Address: Astronomy Department, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA
CoI: John Bochanski, Penn State University
Title: Searching for the Bottom of the Initial Mass Function
Abstract: The measurement of the minimum mass of the IMF would provide a fundamental test of theories of star and planet formation. To provide better constraints on the minimum of the IMF, we are using deep multi- epoch images from the \it Hubble Space Telescope to perform a proper motion search for low-mass brown dwarfs in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region (3 Myr, 165 pc). In these data, we have identified promising candidates that should have masses of ~2-5 M_\rm Jup if they are members of Chamaeleon I, which would make them some of the least massive known brown dwarfs. We propose to use FIRE at Magellan to obtain near-infrared spectra of these candidates to determine whether they are young brown dwarfs.
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 > 2011A-0131 |
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