Hubble Space Telescope search for M subdwarf binaries

Abstract

We present HSTACS observations of 19 nearby M subdwarfs in a search for binary systems. Other than the wide common proper-motion pair LHS 2140/2139, none of our sdM and esdM targets are found to be binaries. Our survey is sensitive to equal-luminosity companions at close (2-8 AU) separations, while substellar secondaries could have been detected at separations in the range of 6-30 AU. To check for wide binaries, we have compared the POSS I and II images in a field of view as large as 10' x 10', but could not detect a single comoving star for any of the targets. Combining our results with those from Gizis & Reid, we have a binary fraction of 3% (1/28). Detection of a small number of M subdwarf binaries reported in the literature suggests a higher fraction than the one obtained here, probably comparable to that found for the more massive solar-type stars in the halo (13%-15%). Comparison with the disk M dwarf fraction (similar to 25%), however, suggests multiplicity to be rare among the lowest mass halo stars, implying the two populations formed under different initial conditions. The low binary fraction in our survey could be explained by selection biases. A decrease in multiplicity has been observed in the disk for masses below 0.1 M-circle dot, the peak in the disk mass function (MF). The globular cluster MF is found to peak at about 0.33 M-circle dot, with a decrease in the number of stars per unit mass below the peak mass. Our sample being composed of stars with masses between similar to 0.2 and 0.085 M-circle dot suggests that a decrease in multiplicity similar to the disk may also be true for the halo stars, but perhaps below a mass of similar to 0.3 M-circle dot. A higher M subdwarf binary fraction may be obtained if the selected primaries have masses near or higher than the peak in the MF.