Prof Jayne Birkby

Abstract:

We present preliminary results from a high-cadence photometric monitoring survey of the 130 Myr old open cluster M50. Using the semi-automated occultation detection process developed by Miller et al. [1], we uncovered eight low mass (< 1M⊙) eclipsing binary candidates in the cluster. Preliminary analysis of spectroscopic follow-up on five of these candidates confirms their binary nature. One candidate also exhibits a systemic velocity broadly consistent with the cluster radial velocity, indicating cluster membership. Confirmation of these eight candidates as true members of the M50 cluster will allow us to provide important constraints to the mass-radius relationship for objects below 1M⊙ at ages younger than lGyr, where current observations remain scarce. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.