Moving groups are associations of stars which originated from the same star forming region. These groups are typically young (< 200 Myr) since they have not dissipated into the galactic field population. Over the last 15 years, roughly 10 such moving groups have been found with distances < 150 pc (7 with distances < 100 pc), each with a unique velocity and position. This work first investigates the likelihood to resolve star from two moving groups (AB Doradus and Beta Pictoris) using high spacial resolution optical interferrometry and found 5 AB Doradus stars and 1 Beta Pictoris star with declinations > -30 could be spacially resolved. To more deeply characterize individual groups, we used the 2.7m telescope at the McDonald Observatory to observe 10 proposed AB Doradus stars and 5 proposed Octans-Near stars (3 probable members, 2 possible) with high resolution (R ~60,000) optical spectroscopy. Each group is characterized in three ways: (1) Chemical analysis to determine the homogeneity among members, (2) Kinematic traceback to determine the origin, and (3) Isochrone fitting to determine the age. We find the 8 stars in our AB Doradus sample are chemically homogeneous with [M/H] = -0.03 ± 0.06 dex, traceback to an age of 125 Myr, and the stars in this mass range are on the main sequence. The two deviants are a metal rich, potentially younger member and a metal poor, young star likely not associated with AB Doradus. In our Octans-Near sample, we find the 3 probable members have [M/H] = -0.06 ± 0.11, the stars do not trace back to a common origin, and the probable members are on the main sequence. In addition to these tests, we found that the probable members are slightly more lithium depleted than the Pleiades, implying an age between 125 and 200 Myr. Finally, we investigate systematic trends in fundamental stellar parameters from the use of different techniques. Preliminary results find differences in temperatures between interferrometric and spectroscopic techniques to be a function of temperature with a interferrometric temperatures being cooler by an average of 36 ± 115 K. We also calculated the chemical abundances as a function of condensation temperature for our moving group sample and predict 2 stars in AB Doradus could represent the initial star forming environment and discuss the implications for planet hosting stars in nearby moving groups. This updated characterization technique allows for a deeper understanding of the moving group environment. As future, high precision instruments emerge in astronomy (Jame Webb Space Telescope, GAIA, 30m class telescopes), moving groups are ideal targets since these associations will help us understand star forming regions, stellar evolution at young ages, constrain stellar evolutionary models, and identify planetary formation and evolution mechanisms.

Les étoiles de petite masse (naines M) forment la composante stellaire dominante de notre galaxie et contribuent à la majeure partie de la matière baryonique dans la galaxie. Notre compréhension de la galaxie repose donc sur la connaissance de cette composante peu lumineuse. Par ailleurs, un nombre grandissant d’exoplanètes sont découverte autour de naines M, y compris des super-terres. L’étude des naines M a ainsi des implications importantes sur la physique stellaire, permettant de comprendre les processus en jeu dans ces atmosphères froides. Ces astres restent cependant peu connus du fait de leur faible luminosité intrinsèque. La description de ces étoiles nécessite une validation empirique fort, notamment en ce qui concerne les effets de l’abondance chimique sur la physique des atmosphères froides.Le but de cette thèse est de déterminer les paramètres fondamentaux des naines M et de tester les modèles d’atmosphères d’étoiles froides.Dans la première partie nous comparons des spectres calibrés dans le visible et l’infrarouge des composantes de système triple LHS 1070 avec des spectres synthétiques. Cette étude permet d’améliorer notre compréhension de la formation de la poussière dans les atmosphères très froides. Ce travail est étendu à un échantillon de naines M et permet de déterminer l’échelle de température des naines M. La seconde partie présente l’analyse des spectres à haute résolution de 21 naines M de faible métallicité (sous naines). Nous analysons en détail les signature moléculaires et atomiques dans le spectre. La comparaison avec des spectres synthétiques permet de mesurer les paramètres stellaires des étoiles et de déterminer avec précision leur métallicité. Ce travail doit initier des recherches futures. En particulier nous voulons étendre cette étude dans le domaine proche-infrarouge pour s’assurer que les résultats obtenus sont cohérents du domaine optique jusqu’à l’infrarouge proche. / Very Low-Mass stars (M dwarfs) are an important source of information for probing the lowmass end of the main sequence, down to the hydrogen burning limit. They are the dominantstellar component of the Galaxy and make up the majority of baryonic matter in the Galaxy.Moreover, an increasing number of M dwarfs are now known to host exoplanets, includingsuper-Earth exoplanets. The determination of accurate fundamental parameters for M dwarfshas therefore relevant implications for both stellar and Galactic astronomy as well as planetology.Despite their large number in the Galaxy, M dwarfs remain elusive objects and themodelling of their photosphere has long remained a challenge (molecular opacities, dust cloudformation). The description of these stars therefore need a strong empirical basis, or validation.In particular, the effect of metallicity on the physics of cool atmospheres are still poorly known,even for early-type M-dwarfs.[...]