Program: GN-2015B-FT-10

The measurement of the minimum mass of the IMF would provide a fundamental test of theories of star and planet formation. To provide better constraints on the substellar IMF and its minimum mass, we are using optical/IR color-magnitude diagrams and proper motions to search for candidate brown dwarfs in the IC 348 star-forming cluster (300 pc). We have used spectra from the IRTF and Gemini to confirm membership of 50 candidate low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. However, several of our faintest and most promising candidates lack spectroscopy, some of which could be among the least massive known members of the cluster (~5 Jupiter masses). We propose to use GNIRS to obtain spectra of these candidates to determine whether they are young brown dwarfs. A paper presenting our existing spectra is in preparation (all tables and figures are completed), any data obtained through this proposal will be added to the paper, and hence will be published quickly.