Precision masses of the low-mass binary system GJ 623

Creators: Martinache, Frantz; Lloyd, James P.; Ireland, Michael J.; Yamada, Ryan S.; Tuthill, Peter G.

Abstract

We have used aperture masking interferometry and adaptive optics (AO) at the Palomar 200 inch telescope to obtain precise mass measurements of the binary M dwarf GJ 623. AO observations spread over 3 yr combined with a decade of radial velocity measurements constrain all orbital parameters of the GJ 623 binary system accurately enough to critically challenge the models. The dynamical masses measured are m(1) = 0.371 ± 0.015 M☉ (4%) and m(2) = 0.115 ± 0.0023 M☉ (2%) for the primary and the secondary, respectively. Models are not consistent with color and mass, requiring very low metallicities.

Additional Information

© 2007 American Astronomical Society. Received 2006 December 4; accepted 2007 February 7. We thank the staff and telescope operators of Palomar Observatory and Keck Observatory for their support. F.M. thanks Terry Herter for his help. This work is partially funded by the National Science Foundation under grants AST 03-35695 and AST 05-06588. This publication makes use of the Simbad database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France and the data products from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, which is a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation. We wish to extend special thanks to those of Hawaiian ancestry on whose sacred mountain we are privileged to be guests. Without their generous hospitality, the observations presented herein would not have been possible.

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