Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-4-2012

Publication Title

The Astrophysical Journal

Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

We examine the agreement between the observed and theoretical low-mass (<0.8 M ☉) stellar main-sequence mass-radius relationship by comparing detached eclipsing binary (DEB) data with a new, large grid of stellar evolution models. The new grid allows for a realistic variation in the age and metallicity of the DEB population, characteristic of the local galactic neighborhood. Overall, our models do a reasonable job of reproducing the observational data. A large majority of the models match the observed stellar radii to within 4%, with a mean absolute error of 2.3%. These results represent a factor of two improvement compared to previous examinations of the low-mass mass-radius relationship. The improved agreement between models and observations brings the radius deviations within the limits imposed by potential starspot-related uncertainties for 92% of the stars in our DEB sample.

DOI

10.1088/0004-637X/757/1/42

Original Citation

Gregory A. Feiden and Brian Chaboyer 2012 ApJ 757 42

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