Improving the mass-radius relation of low-mass stars

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stefan Dreizler
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: Funded in 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 136972292

In low-mass stars, tho discrepancy between the empirical mass-radius relation from eclipsingbinaries and stellar models is an urgent problem, as it touches on our basic understanding ofstellar physics. Observing a sample of bright eclipsing binaries with low-mass companions,obtained as by-product of the TrES-survey, offers the chance to improve the observationaldatabase significantly. Wc therefore propose FOCES high resolution spectroscopy to obtainradial velocity curves in order to determine reliable masses and radii for several new low-mass stars. Special emphasis is placed on those systems with detectable spectroscopic features of the secondary.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants