Computer Science
Scientific paper
Dec 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997hst..prop.7227s&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #7227
Computer Science
Hst Proposal Id #7227 Cool Stars
Scientific paper
Knowledge of stellar and sub-stellar masses and luminosities at and below the 0.08 M{sun} H-burning limit is of fundamental importance in many inter-related areas such as the determination of the stellar mass function at the lowest masses, the theory of stellar evolution, the study of the end of the main sequence, the search for galactic missing mass, and the resolution of age/evolution issues. Yet, this transition region between low-mass stars and giant planets is poorly understood and ill-observed. Until very recently, with the discovery of the brown dwarf companion to GL 229, the very existence of such objects remained in the conjectural realm. To make further progress at the low end of the mass function, additional objects must first be found. NICMOS provides potentially fruitful hunting grounds in which to search for such transitional objects over parameter spaces which do not overlap with ground-based capabilities. Our investigation will carry out a coronagraphic imaging program aimed at discovering close companions to M-dwarfs which are {a} nearby {d<6pc} with spectral types later than M3.5, {b} young {age< 100 Myr} with d< 25pc, and {c} spectrally the latest known {types> M8.5}. With these findings, one may address such fundamental questions as: Is there a continuity of objects across the sub-stellar mass spectrum bridging the main sequence to planetary objects? What is their frequency of occurrence? At what distances will they be found from their primaries? And, what implications will these discoveries have for our understanding of stellar/planetary formation mechanisms?
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