M Stars and the History of the Milky Way

詹妮弗·约翰逊博士(俄亥俄州立大学)将对M型巨星和M型矮星的中等色散光谱指数(在光学红区)进行经验校准。M巨星将通过观察已知化学成分和颜色的恒星，或者直接与之前对不同波长的高分辨率光谱的研究进行比较来进行校准。M矮星将通过观测双星系统中的矮星和F、G或K型恒星的伴星来校准；伴星的金属丰度适用于M矮星。这些定标将用于得出斯隆星系理解和探索扩展计划(SEGUE)和两微米全天巡天计划(2MASS)已经观测到的M巨星和矮星的性质，并将在大型双筒望远镜、MDM天文台和中小口径研究望远镜系统上进行额外的观测，以便绘制M巨星的晕分布图。这项工作的结果也可以应用于斯隆数字天空测量和英国红外望远镜红外深空测量数据，用于其他研究。一名研究生和一名博士后研究员将参加这一研究项目。本科生也将参与研究的某些方面。约翰逊博士和她的合作者还将参与俄亥俄州立大学与哥伦布科学博物馆(COSI)的合作，在该地区开展公共宣传。

Dr. Jennifer Johnson (Ohio State University) will develop an empirical calibration of moderate dispersion spectral indices (in the optical red region) for M-type giant and M-type dwarf stars. The M giants will be calibrated by observing stars with known chemical composition and colors or by comparing directly to previous studies of high-resolution spectra at various wavelengths. The M dwarfs will be calibrated by observing dwarfs in binary systems with a companion that is an F-, G-, or K-type star; the metallicity of the companion being applied to the M dwarf. The calibrations will be used to derive properties of M giants and dwarfs already observed by Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SEGUE) and the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS), and additional observations will be made at the Large Binocular Telescope, the MDM observatory, and the Small and Moderate Aperture Research Telescope System in order to map the halo distribution of M giant stars. Results from the work can also be applied to Sloan Digital Sky Survey and United Kingdom Infrared Telescope Infrared Deep Sky Survey data in general for other studies. A graduate student and a postdoctoral researcher will take part in this research project. Undergraduate students will also be involved in some aspects of the research. Dr. Johnson and her collaborators will also be involved with the Ohio State University collaboration with the Columbus Science Museum (COSI) to perform public outreach in the area.