NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0140
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0140 |
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PI: William van Altena, Yale University, william.vanaltena@yale.edu
Address: P.O. Box 20, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
CoI: Elliott Horch, Southern Connecticut State University
CoI: Pierre Demarque, Yale University
Title: A Snapshot Improvement in the Metal-Poor Mass-Luminosity Relation
Abstract:
This proposal seeks to obtain a single DSSI speckle observation of each of 22
binary systems which together can immediately impact the current
understanding of the role of metallicity on the Mass-Luminosity Relation.
Initial observations have been made at the WIYN 3.5-m Telescope in most
cases, where most of the companions have been seen below the diffraction
limit with DSSI. In these cases, a single (resolved) Gemini observation will
provide definitive astrometry and photometry with which to calculate a
high-precision orbit as well as individual magnitudes and colors, together
with lower-precision data from WIYN or other sources. These systems are all
spectroscopic binaries with known orbits and distances, so individual masses
will immediately follow. With the full data set, it will be possible to make
a major contribution to the main-sequence mass-luminosity relation for
metal-poor stars, as well as to conduct very sensitive tests of the details
of metal-poor stellar evolution models. For the lowest metallicity members in
the sample, component colors and magnitudes would yield new points in the
empirical Population II main sequence, which is important for the calibration
of ages and distances to globular clusters.
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 > 2013B-0140 |
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