Title:  
The Smallest Mass Ratio Young Star Spectroscopic Binaries


Lisa Prato
University of California Los Angeles


Abstract:

Mass is the most important characteristic of a star.
For pre-main-sequence objects, relating the evolving stellar
properties with known masses can provide an unprecedented
understanding of the star formation process.  Knowledge of
the binary star mass ratio distribution is critical for
developing viable models of multiple star formation, 
apparently the dominant mode of stellar birth.
In this talk I will describe some recent results from my
program to measure the dynamical mass ratios in young star
single-lined spectroscopic binaries, identified in visible
light.  Observations at longer, near-infrared wavelengths
enable the detection of faint, low-mass secondaries because
the flux ratio is closer to unity in the infrared.