Theoretical Models of Binary Star and Brown Dwarf Formation

双星和褐矮星形成的理论模型

• 批准号: 0305913
• 负责人: Alan Boss
• 金额: $ 11.18万
• 依托单位: Carnegie Institution of Washington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-06-15 至 2007-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0305913&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Theoretical; Models; Binary; Star; Brown

Boss, AlanAST 0305913The PI will improve the understanding of the formation of binary, brown dwarf, and sub-brown dwarf stars. The discovery of companions to pre-main sequence stars with a frequency at least equal to that of main sequence stars requires that binary star formation occur prior to the pre-main-sequence phase of stellar evolution, i.e., during the protostellar collapse phase. While brown dwarf companions to solar-mass stars appear to be rare, the number of known free-floating brown dwarf stars is large and growing. Brown dwarf binaries are common, and several sub-brown dwarfs may have been discovered with masses in the range generally associated with gas giant planets. Binary stars are hypothesized to form by fragmentation during protostellar collapse, a process that can lead to the formation of increasingly smaller mass protostars. This project will further develop the theory of protostellar fragmentation, through detailed models of the collapse of molecular cloud cores. The models will result in an improved understanding of binary and multiple star formation, as well as of the minimum mass of a newly-formed protostellar fragment.The broader impact of this work centers on the PI's efforts to communicate the excitement of scientific discoveries to the public, through frequent interactions with journalists, giving public lectures, helping museums with exhibits, and writing articles for popular magazines. The PI also mentors undergraduate students as a part of an NSF REU program.

Boss，AlanAST 0305913，PI将提高对双星、棕矮星和亚棕矮星形成的理解。前主序恒星的伴星的发现频率至少等于主序恒星的频率，要求双星的形成发生在恒星演化的前主序阶段之前，即在原恒星坍塌阶段。虽然与太阳质量相当的恒星相伴的棕矮星似乎很少，但已知的自由漂浮的棕矮星的数量很多，而且还在不断增加。棕矮星双星很常见，可能已经发现了几颗质量在通常与气态巨行星有关的范围内的亚棕矮星。假设双星是在原恒星崩塌过程中通过碎裂形成的，这一过程可能会导致质量越来越小的原恒星的形成。该项目将通过分子云核坍塌的详细模型，进一步发展原恒星碎裂理论。这些模型将有助于更好地理解双星和多星的形成，以及新形成的原恒星碎片的最小质量。这项工作的更广泛影响集中在PI努力向公众传达科学发现的兴奋，通过与记者的频繁互动，公开演讲，帮助博物馆展览，并为流行杂志撰写文章。作为NSF REU项目的一部分，PI还指导本科生。