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Statistics of low-mass companions to stars: implications for their origin
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Stepinski, T. F. Black, D. C. |
| Copyright Year | 2001 |
| Description | One of the more significant results from observational astronomy over the past few years has been the detection, primarily via radial velocity studies, of low-mass companions (LMCs) to solar-like stars. The commonly held interpretation of these is that the majority are "extrasolar planets" whereas the rest are brown dwarfs, the distinction made on the basis of apparent discontinuity in the distribution of M sin i for LMCs as revealed by a histogram. We report here results from statistical analysis of M sin i, as well as of the orbital elements data for available LMCs, to rest the assertion that the LMCs population is heterogeneous. The outcome is mixed. Solely on the basis of the distribution of M sin i a heterogeneous model is preferable. Overall, we find that a definitive statement asserting that LMCs population is heterogeneous is, at present, unjustified. In addition we compare statistics of LMCs with a comparable sample of stellar binaries. We find a remarkable statistical similarity between these two populations. This similarity coupled with marked populational dissimilarity between LMCs and acknowledged planets motivates us to suggest a common origin hypothesis for LMCs and stellar binaries as an alternative to the prevailing interpretation. We discuss merits of such a hypothesis and indicate a possible scenario for the formation of LMCs. |
| File Size | 973161 |
| Page Count | 10 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20010005244 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t88h3k53h |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2001-01-11 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Astronomy Heterogeneity Statistical Analysis Populations Star Formation Brown Dwarf Stars Radial Velocity Companion Stars Orbital Elements Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
