Low-mass stars in the Hyades

We present VRI photometry for a proper-motion-selected sample of candidate Hyades members, complete to V = 19 over 110 deg². 210 stars in the magnitude range $$8\lt{V}\lt{19}$$ have colours consistent with membership, although not all have a high probability of cluster membership once the proper motion data are taken into account. Based on these data and previously published observations of brighter stars, we construct colour-magnitude diagrams and luminosity functions for the cluster. The luminosity function, $$\Phi ({M}_{\upsilon}),\rm \enspace peaks \enspace at \enspace {M}_{\upsilon}\sim+12,$$ with a sharp decline in number density at fainter magnitudes, and the bolometric luminosity function (inferred from M_I) is very similar to that derived from recent deep photometric surveys in the field. We discuss the possibility of detecting further faint cluster members.