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Over the past half century, multiplicity studies have provided a foundation for the theories of stellar formation and evolution through understanding how likely it is that stars form alone or with companions. If spectroscopic orbits are combined with techniques that can determine visual orbits, we can access the most fundamental parameter of stellar evolution, stellar mass. This dissertation is composed of two main sections. The first involves the investigation of the seminal multiplicity study of Duquennoy & Mayor (1991b) which has been the ``gold standard" for solar-type stars for nearly 20 years. Improvements in technology in the intervening years have improved the measurement accuracy for radial velocities and distances on which the study was based. Using Georgia State University's CHARA Array to search the systems in Duquennoy & Mayor's multiplicity survey for overlooked companions along with a literature search covering regimes unreachable by the CHARA Array, we have found that more than 40% of the Duquennoy & Mayor's sample was further than originally believed and the uncorrected multiplicity percentages change from 57:38:4:1:0% (single:double:triple:quad:quint%) to 48:42.5:7.5:1:1% with the discoveries of multiple previously undiscovered companions. The second part of this project describes the application of separated fringe packets for resolving the astrometric position of secondaries with small angular separations on long-baseline optical interferometers. The longest baselines of the CHARA Array allow access to a previously inaccessible range of separations compared with other techniques (<40 milliarcseconds) and the ability to very accurately angularly resolve a large number of single- and double-lined spectroscopic binaries. Combining astrometric and spectroscopic orbits provides assumption-free stellar masses and using the CHARA Array allows access to many previously unreachable systems available for high-accuracy mass determinations. We report the first angular separation measurements of seven spectroscopic binary systems, five additional separated fringe packet detections, ten systems with probably overlapping fringe packets, four systems with new data on pre-existing orbits, one completely new visual orbit for a SB2 system previously unresolved, and the detection of two previously unknown companions.

The self-calibration method, a new interferometric technique using measurements in the K′-band (2.1 μm) at the CHARA Array, has been used to derive orbits for several spectroscopic binaries. This method uses the wide component of a hierarchical triple system to calibrate visibility measurements of the triple’s close binary system through quasi-simultaneous observations of the separated fringe packets of both. Prior to the onset of this project, the reduction of separated fringe packet data had never included the goal of deriving visibilities for both fringe packets, so new data reduction software has been written. Visibilities obtained with separated fringe packet data for the target close binary are run through both Monte Carlo simulations and grid search programs in order to determine the best-fit orbital elements of the close binary. Several targets, with spectral types ranging from O to G and luminosity classesfrom III to V, have been observed in this fashion, and orbits have been derived for the close binaries of eight targets (V819 Her B, Kappa Peg B, Eta Vir A, Eta Ori Aab, 55 UMa A, 13 Ceti A, CHARA 96 Ab, HD 129132 Aa). The derivation of an orbit has allowed for the calculation of the masses of the components in these systems. The magnitude differences between the components can also be derived, provided that the components of the close binary have a magnitude difference of Delta K < 2.5 (CHARA’s limit). Derivation of the orbit also allows for the calculation of the mutual inclination (Phi), which is the angle between the planes of the wide and close orbits. According to data from the Multiple Star Catalog, there are 34 triple systems other than the 8 studied here for which the wide and close systems both have visual orbits. Early formation scenarios for multiple systems predict coplanarity (Phi < 15 degrees), but only 6 of these 42 systems are possibly coplanar. This tendency against coplanarity may suggest that the capture method of multiple system formation is more important than previously believed.

L’étude de l’impact des changements climatiques passés sur le domaine continental permet de comprendre les mécanismes, les vitesses et le calendrier des réponses des écosystèmes aux perturbations.La Transition Eocène-Oligocène (TEO) de la limite Eocène-Oligocène (EOb) se prête bien à ce type d’étude car elle enregistre la dernière transition climatique entre le mode greenhouse et le mode icehouse en passant par un intervalle mal compris : le doubthouse. Cette transition climatique a été étudiée sur un enregistrement lacustre riche en Matière Organique. Le modèle d’âge est construit par cyclostratigraphie,les évolutions de la végétation par des biomarqueurs moléculaires, et le climat local (température ethydrologie) par des proxies moléculaires et isotopiques. Les évolutions du climat mettent en évidence un refroidissement et une aridification marqués, en réponse au refroidissement EO. La végétation ne montre pas ce changement brutal, mais des changements rythmiques et marqués, en phase avec l’excentricité,durant un intervalle qui commence 1750 ka avant l’EOb et qui se termine 300 ka après. Cet intervalle qualifié d’Intervalle de Transition Environnementale (ITE), plus chaud et plus humide, coïncide avec le doubthouse. La mise en place de cet ITE correspond à un enregistrement distinct des paramètres orbitaux.Une meilleure expression des cycles solaires dans les sédiments résulte de la mise en place ou du renforcement des couplages océan-atmosphère, en relation avec l’installation de la calotte antarctique. Au total, ce travail résout en partie les incertitudes qui régnaient jusqu’alors sur le doubthouse. / The study of past climate changes on the terrestrial realm provides clues to understand the mechanisms,chronology, and timing of ecosystems response to climate disturbances. The Eocene-Oligocene Transition(EOT) of the Eocene-Oligocene boundary (EOb) is well suited for this type of study because it records the last climatic transition between the greenhouse and icehouse modes via a misunderstood interval: thedoubthouse period. This climatic transition was studied through the analysis of organic-rich lacustrine sediments. After an astro-calibrated age model was set up, we reconstructed the evolution of vegetation by using molecular biomarkers specific of plant groups and of local climate (temperature and hydrological conditions) by using molecular and isotopic proxies. The climate record exhibits a marked cooling and drying at the EOT. The evolution of vegetation did not show any abrupt change but exhibited pronounced and rhythmic changes in phase with excentricity during an interval that started 1750 ka before the EOb and lasted until 300 ka after. This interval named Environmental Transition Interval (ETI) was warmer and wetter, and coincides with the doubthouse period. The start of the ETI is concomitant with changes in the recording of orbital parameters. The good expression of solar cycles in the sediments from that period attests to the setting or strengthening of ocean-atmosphere couplings linked to the establishment of the Antarctic icesheet. This work partly solves the uncertainties that prevailed on the doubthouse period.