CM Draconis: Masses and Radii of Very-low Mass Stars

Details CM Draconis: Masses and Radii of Very-low Mass Stars CM Draconis: Masses and Radii of Very-low Mass Stars

Aug 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007iaus..240..326m&link_type=abstract

Binary Stars as Critical Tools and Tests in Contemporary Astrophysics, International Astronomical Union. Symposium no. 240, he

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Eclipsing binaries provide the only high-accuracy (~1-2%) measures of stellar masses and radii, making them suitable for relevant tests of the models of structure and evolution of stars. At the low-mass end of the main sequence, current results have shown that models predict radii smaller by ~10% and effective temperatures larger by ~5% than observed. Although no definitive explanation of such differences has been yet reached, some evidence suggests that the disagreement could be related to the strong activity and intense magnetic fields in these stars. In this work we study CM Draconis, one of the least massive eclipsing binaries known. Their components are very similar, both with dM4 spectral type, and masses and radii of about 0.23 solar masses and 0.25 solar radii, respectively. We have analyzed light curves in the R and I bands taken within 1975 and 2004 with a total of 25051 measurements. To calculate the fundamental properties of this system with accuracies better than 1% we have considered spots on the surface of the stars and modeled the light curve variations accordingly. From the resulting accurate masses and radii we plan to carry out a thorough test of the models for these fully convective stars. This will be especially interesting since the mechanism driving magnetic activity is thought to be different from that of more massive stars. In addition, the extended time-span of the observations has led to the detection of apsidal motion in this system, which has a slightly eccentric orbit. This provides a further check on models through the determination of the internal structure of the stars

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

CM Draconis: Masses and Radii of Very-low Mass Stars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with CM Draconis: Masses and Radii of Very-low Mass Stars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and CM Draconis: Masses and Radii of Very-low Mass Stars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1811043