Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2008-10-06
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Conference splinter session summary, to appear in proceedings of Cool Stars XV Conference. 9 pages (aipproc format)
Scientific paper
10.1063/1.3099100
Precise measurements of the fundamental properties of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs are key to understanding the physics underlying their formation and evolution. While there has been great progress over the last decade in studying the bulk spectrophotometric properties of low-mass objects, direct determination of their masses, radii, and temperatures have been very sparse. Thus, theoretical predictions of low-mass evolution and ultracool atmospheres remain to be rigorously tested. The situation is alarming given that such models are widely used, from the determination of the low-mass end of the initial mass function to the characterization of exoplanets. An increasing number of mass, radius, and age determinations are placing critical constraints on the physics of low-mass objects. A wide variety of approaches are being pursued, including eclipsing binary studies, astrometric-spectroscopic orbital solutions, interferometry, and characterization of benchmark systems. In parallel, many more systems suitable for concerted study are now being found, thanks to new capabilities spanning both the very widest (all-sky surveys) and very narrowest (diffraction-limited adaptive optics) areas of the sky. This Cool Stars 15 splinter session highlighted the current successes and limitations of this rapidly growing area of precision astrophysics.
Allard France
Blake Cullen H.
Bonnefoy Mickael
Cody Ann Marie
Day-Jones Avril . C.
No associations
LandOfFree
Fundamental Properties of Low-Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs 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 Fundamental Properties of Low-Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fundamental Properties of Low-Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-556526