VERY-LOW MASS STARS AND SUBSTELLAR OBJECTS IN THE PLEIADES

We have identified a small number of faint, red stars in optical and i nfrared frames taken near the center of the Pleiades cluster. The samp led masses range from 0.25 to 0.04 M.. The Pleiades mass function in l inear units is consistent with a M(-1) power law or with a flat depend ence in logarithmic mass units. This dependence is consistent with stu dies of other young open clusters and suggests that massive brown dwar fs and low-mass stars do not contribute significantly to the dark matt er.