Space density and kinematics of dwarf M stars

The results of an objective-prism survey for dwarf stars, K7 and later, are presented. One hundred twenty-one red sensitive plates covering 1720 sq. deg. of the southern sky were obtained with the Curtis Schmidt telescope at C.T.I.O. The limiting magnitude for classification was approximately m/sub V/ = 12, with completeness obtained to m/sub V/ approximately 11. The resulting luminosity function rises from log N + 10 = 7.9 at M/sub V/ = 8 to about 8.7 at M/sub V/ = 11 and 12. A galactic mass density of about 0.08 solar mass /pc3 is found for the dwarfs considered. Adding reasonable mass densities for other objects yields a total density of approximately 0.2 solar mass/pc3. This is sufficient to account for the ''missing mass''. A large variation in CaH strength in these dwarfs is found and is interpreted as a significant variation in metal content. The average tangential (transverse) velocity of the dwarfs found is about 23 km/sec with a dispersion of about 13 to 15 km/sec. (Diss. Abstr. Int., B)