Astrophysics of Single and Binary Star Formation

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。迈克尔·西蒙和学生们将承担一个探索单星和双星形成的项目。这项研究将为理论学家提供年轻恒星的精确测量质量，从而对早期恒星演化的理论计算进行关键测试。天文学家使用描述年轻恒星演化的理论计算来估计它们的质量和年龄。不幸的是，对于质量小于太阳的恒星，计算得出的结果是不一致的。对于质量小于0.5个太阳质量的恒星，计算基本上没有经过经验数据的校准。低质量年轻恒星的质量将通过它们的引力相互作用来测量。该项目还将从太阳附近的空间运动中识别新的低质量恒星。这将为质量测量提供年轻双星的改进样本，以及通过高分辨率、高对比度成像进行系外行星搜索的理想目标。这项研究为研究生提供了学习如何使用当代最好仪器的机会，并与擅长使用这些仪器的天文学家合作。西蒙博士还将继续与石溪分校的其他天文学家合作，特别是通过长期运行的“天文学开放之夜”项目。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Dr. Michal Simon and students will undertake a project to explore the formation of single and binary stars. The research will provide theorists with precisely measured masses of young stars to enable critical tests of theoretical calculations of early stellar evolution. Astronomers use theoretical calculations describing the evolution of young stars to estimate their masses and ages. Unfortunately, for stars less massive than the Sun, the calculations yield discrepant results. For stars less massive than about 0.5 solar mass, the calculations are essentially uncalibrated by empirical data. Masses of low mass young stars will be measured by their gravitational interaction. The project will also identify new, low-mass stars near the Sun from their motions in space. This will provide improved samples of young binaries for mass measurement, along with desirable targets for exoplanet searches by high resolution, high contrast imaging.This research offers graduate students the opportunity to learn how to use the best contemporary instruments and to collaborate with astronomers who are expert in their use. Dr. Simon will also continue his outreach efforts with other astronomers at Stony Brook, in particular via the long-running program "Open Nights in Astronomy."