2012/07/12 by Gregory A. Feiden, Brian Chaboyer · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Scientific Research and Discoveries #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0004-637x/757/1/42
published as 2012, ApJ, 757, 42 · 16 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ
arxiv created 2012/07/12 · openalex publication_date 2012/09/04 · arxiv updated 2012/10/19 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
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.