M dwarf spectra from 0.6 to 1.5 micron - A spectral sequence, model atmosphere fitting, and the temperature scale

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (182) References (27) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS M Dwarf Spectra from 0.6 to 1.5 Microns: A Spectral Sequence, Model Atmosphere Fitting, and the Temperature Scale Kirkpatrick, J. D. ; Kelly, Douglas M. ; Rieke, George H. ; Liebert, James ; Allard, France ; Wehrse, Rainer Abstract Red/infrared (0.6-1.5 micron) spectra are presented for a sequence of well-studied M dwarfs ranging from M2 through M9. A variety of temperature-sensitive features useful for spectral classification are identified. Using these features, the spectral data are compared to recent theoretical models, from which a temperature scale is assigned. The red portion of the model spectra provide reasonably good fits for dwarfs earlier than M6. For layer types, the infrared region provides a more reliable fit to the observations. In each case, the wavelength region used includes the broad peak of the energy distribution. For a given spectral type, the derived temperature sequence assigns higher temperatures than have earlier studies - the difference becoming more pronounced at lower luminosities. The positions of M dwarfs on the H-R diagram are, as a result, in closer agreement with theoretical tracks of the lower main sequence. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: January 1993 DOI: 10.1086/172166 Bibcode: 1993ApJ...402..643K Keywords: Dwarf Stars; M Stars; Stellar Atmospheres; Stellar Models; Stellar Temperature; Astronomical Spectroscopy; Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram; Stellar Spectra; Astrophysics; STARS: FUNDAMENTAL PARAMETERS; STARS: LATE-TYPE full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (45)