The Solar Neighborhood. XXXVII: The Mass-Luminosity Relation for Main-sequence M Dwarfs
Abstract
We present a mass-luminosity relation (MLR) for red dwarfs spanning a range of masses from 0.62 {{ M }}⊙ to the end of the stellar main sequence at 0.08 {{ M }}⊙ . The relation is based on 47 stars for which dynamical masses have been determined, primarily using astrometric data from Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS) 3 and 1r, white-light interferometers on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and radial velocity data from McDonald Observatory. For our HST/FGS sample of 15 binaries, component mass errors range from 0.4% to 4.0% with a median error of 1.8%. With these and masses from other sources, we construct a V-band MLR for the lower main sequence with 47 stars and a K-band MLR with 45 stars with fit residuals half of those of the V band. We use GJ 831 AB as an example, obtaining an absolute trigonometric parallax, π abs = 125.3 ± 0.3 mas, with orbital elements yielding {{ M }}{{A}}=0.270+/- 0.004 {{ M }}⊙ and {{ M }}{{B}}=0.145+/- 0.002 {{ M }}⊙ . The mass precision rivals that derived for eclipsing binaries. A remaining major task is the interpretation of the intrinsic cosmic scatter in the observed MLR for low-mass stars in terms of physical effects. In the meantime, useful mass values can be estimated from the MLR for the ubiquitous red dwarfs that account for 75% of all stars, with applications ranging from the characterization of exoplanet host stars to the contribution of red dwarfs to the mass of the universe.
Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 2016
- DOI:
- 10.3847/0004-6256/152/5/141
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1608.04775
- Bibcode:
- 2016AJ....152..141B
- Keywords:
-
- astrometry;
- binaries: close;
- stars: distances;
- stars: late-type;
- techniques: interferometric;
- techniques: radial velocities;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted to the Astronomical Journal, 16 August 2016. Revised Title to state correct running number. XXXVIII ->
