Searching for Low Mass Stars: the Mass Function at the H Burning Limit

Details Searching for Low Mass Stars: the Mass Function at the H Burning Limit Searching for Low Mass Stars: the Mass Function at the H Burning Limit

Jul 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996hst..prop.6572p&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #6572

Computer Science

Hst Proposal Id #6572 Stellar Populations

Scientific paper

This is the natural continuation of our Cycle-5 program aimed at deriving the luminosity and mass function of very low mass stars {VLM} in globular clusters {GCs}. Cycle-5 observations, scheduled for 1995 November, will study three clusters all with the same metallicity, yet with completely different dynamical histories {both internal and due to the interaction with the Galaxy} to investigate the effects of dynamics on the present day mass function at the VLM end. We propose now to use the same technique {deep WFPC2 observations in the F606W and F814W bands} to analyze four clusters with very similar dynamical evolution, but spanning a large range of metallicity. Recent studies show that metallicity may affect the star formation process in GCs, resulting in a steeper IMF at low masses for metal-poor objects, although a flattening below 0.3 Msun is expected in all cases. A thorough intercomparison of the luminosity and mass functions of several different clusters will provide useful tests on VLM stars evolution, will deliver long awaited hints on the origin of the dark matter, and will improve the understanding of the dynamical processes at work in globular clusters. As a byproduct, several cluster white dwarfs will be detected and their cooling sequences will be investigated.

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