Mass Ratios and High Order Multiplicity of Young Binaries

丽莎普拉托博士将获得并分析非常年轻的恒星双星的高分辨率红外光谱。 目标恒星是金牛座T型，代表了像太阳这样的恒星的早期演化阶段。该项目的目标是确定太阳质量的一小部分的动态质量比。质量是恒星最基本的属性，一旦组成确定，质量就决定了星星的生与死的所有属性。然而，尽管年轻星星的质量、质量比和高阶多重性至关重要，但天文学家的知识是不完整的，因为迄今为止还没有统计学上的大样本存在。这个项目将把金牛座T的质量比分布和高阶多重频率建立在一个合理的统计基础上。由此产生的质量比分布和子分布，可能与这样一个大的样本，将比较理论预测，并为老恒星的质量比分布。这些数据预计将有助于理论家开发密近双星形成，行星形成，恒星演化模型和星团形成的模型。普拉托博士还将为亚利桑那州弗拉格斯塔夫的老年人社区提供“人行道天文学”开放式夜间观测和幻灯片放映。她还将在洛厄尔天文台为老年人提供免费的天文迷你课程。普拉托将继续与学生开展密集的辅导活动，并鼓励他们积极参加与该提案相关的外联活动。

Dr. Lisa Prato will obtain and analyze high-resolution infrared spectra of very young stellar binaries. The target stars are of the T Tauri type, and represent the early evolutionary phases of stars like the Sun. The goal of the project is to determine dynamical mass ratios down a fraction of the mass of the Sun. Mass is the most fundamental stellar property and, once composition is set, determines all properties of a star's life and death. In spite of its key importance, however, astronomers' knowledge of young star masses, mass ratios, and higher order multiplicity is incomplete because to date no statistically large samples exist. This project will put the T Tauri mass ratio distribution and higher order multiplicity frequency on a sound statistical basis. The resulting mass ratio distribution and sub-distributions, possible with such a large sample, will be compared to theoretical predictions, and to mass ratio distributions for older stars. These data are anticipated to aid theorists developing models of close binary formation, planet formation, stellar evolutionary models, and cluster formation. Dr. Prato wll also provide "sidewalk astronomy" open night observing and slide shows for senior citizen communities in Flagstaff, Arizona. She will also offer free astronomy mini-courses at Lowell Observatory for seniors. Prato will continue her intensive mentoring activity with students and will encourage them to actively take part in outreach activities associated with this proposal.