NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012B-0340
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012B-0340 |
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PI: Adam Burgasser, UC San Diego, aburgasser@ucsd.edu
Address: Physics Department, UCSD Mail Code 0424, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
CoI: Andrew Drake, Caltech
CoI: George Djorgovski, Caltech
CoI: Amelia Christensen, UC San Diego
CoI: Ed Beshore, University of Arizona/LPL
CoI: Steve Larson, University of Arizona/LPL
CoI: Ed Christensen, Gemini Observatory
Title: Hunting for Halo Brown Dwarfs in the Catalina Rapid Transient Survey
Abstract:
Low-mass stars and brown dwarfs at the bottom of the halo main
sequence may comprise a significant fraction of the Galaxy's baryonic
dark matter component, as suggested by current measurements of the halo
luminosity function. However, few very low mass halo subdwarfs are
known, and their space density poorly constrained. We propose to obtain
spectroscopic confirmation for a new set of extremely low mass stellar
and substellar halo L-type subdwarf candidates, selected as high proper
motion sources in the Catalina Rapid Transient Survey (CRTS). Optical
spectroscopy with Gemini/GMOS will allow us to determine spectral types,
distances, radial velocities, effective temperatures and metallicities
for our candidates. With the potential for doubling the current L
subdwarf sample, we anticipate making the first robust measurements of
the space density and kinematic distribution of these uniquely low-mass,
low temperature and low-metallicity objects.
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 > 2012B-0340 |
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