Effect of Uncertainties in Stellar Model Parameters on Estimated Masses and Radii of Single Stars

S Basu, GA Verner, William Chaplin, Yvonne Elsworth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Accurate and precise values of radii and masses of stars are needed to correctly estimate properties of extrasolar planets. We examine the effect of uncertainties in stellar model parameters on estimates of the masses, radii, and average densities of solar-type stars. We find that in the absence of seismic data on solar-like oscillations, stellar masses can be determined to a greater accuracy than either stellar radii or densities; but to get reasonably accurate results the effective temperature, log g, and metallicity must be measured to high precision. When seismic data are available, stellar density is the most well-determined property, followed by radius, with mass the least well-determined property. Uncertainties in stellar convection, quantified in terms of uncertainties in the value of the mixing length parameter, cause the most significant errors in the estimates of stellar properties.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)76
Number of pages1
JournalThe Astrophysical Journal
Volume746
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2012

Keywords

  • methods : data analysis
  • stars : oscillations
  • stars : interiors
  • stars : fundamental parameters

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