Program: GN-2019A-Q-128

Title:Improved Calibration of M Dwarf Fundamental Parameters with Alopeke
PI:Trent Dupuy
Co-I(s): Andrew Mann

Abstract

The mass-luminosity relation for M dwarfs has proven to be a powerful tool for studies ranging from exoplanets to variations in the initial mass function in nearby galaxies. In order to develop a more precise mass-luminosity relation, we have been monitoring a set of 60 nearby astrometric M dwarf binaries with adaptive optics imaging. While this has been successful in improving the overall relation, our AO imaging only provides resolved magnitudes in the near-infrared. Deriving a relation at optical magnitudes, however, is necessary for interpreting many high-impact observational samples (e.g., SDSS, Kepler). Moreover, optical magnitudes are much more sensitive to important astrophysical parameters, including metallicity, temperature, and radius. Here we propose to utilize the tight inner working angle of Alopeke on Gemini-North to obtain optical photometry for our low-mass stellar multiple systems that otherwise are only resolvable with AO or from space. These data will vastly improve the astrophysical utility of this unique sample as the study of M dwarfs at optical wavelengths continues to intensify in the future with data sets from Gaia, TESS, and LSST.

Publications using this program's data