This research centers on the collection of observations and the development of analysis tools to further our understanding of the characteristics of very low mass stars, brown dwarfs, and giant extrasolar planets (collectively referred to as very low mass objects). The work is intended to address issues with the determination of the fundamental parameters very low mass objects (mass, radius, temperature, surface gravity, composition, rotation, and magnetic fields) and atmospheric processes (dust formation, magnetic heating, and spectral formation) as well as their formation, frequency and the binarity. The principle tool to be employed is high resolution spectroscopy which here will be developed and calibrated through "fine analysis techniques" for obtaining fundamental parameters of single very low mass objects. These will in turn be applied to a broad set of both field objects and objects in star forming regions. Moreover, these derived parameters will be used to calibrate and improve evolutionary models of very low mass objects, both to understand their early evolution and to place the use of evolutionary models in understanding star formation on a better footing for very low masses. Observations of low mass objects in binaries will be used to gain a better understanding of the binary frequency and separation distribution of very low mass objects as a means of testing models of their formation modes and to help in understanding the process of multi-object formation itself in a new parameter regime. In addition, studies of studies of rotation and activity in low mass objects will be continued by pursuing actual magnetic field measurements as well as a broader sample of different types of objects. Finally, the study of the effects of composition on the atmospheric chemistry and spectral formation in very low mass objects will be begun as part of the effort to calibrate the fundamental parameters of M and early L stars. This project will support the thesis work of a new graduate student as well as contribute to the training of the next generation of scientists in working in this group. Dr. Basri regularly engages in public outreach through talks and through the media and his activities in these areas will continue.
