scholarly journals Parallaxes of Brown Dwarfs at USNO

2003 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 409-412
Author(s):  
Hugh C. Harris ◽  
Conard C. Dahn ◽  
Frederick J. Vrba ◽  
Harry H. Guetter ◽  
Blaise Canzian ◽  
...  

Trigonometric parallaxes have been measured by Dahn et al. (2002) for 28 cool dwarfs and brown dwarfs, including 17 L dwarfs and three T dwarfs. Broadband CCD and near-IR photometry (VRIz*JHK) have been obtained for these objects and for 24 additional late-type dwarfs. These data have been supplemented with astrometry and photometry from the literature, including parallaxes for the brighter companions of ten L and two T dwarfs. The absolute magnitudes and colors are reviewed here. The I - J color and the spectral type are both good predictors of absolute magnitude for late-M and L dwarfs. MJ becomes monotonically fainter with I - J color and with spectral type through late-L dwarfs, then brightens for early-T dwarfs. In contrast, the J - K color correlates poorly with absolute magnitude for L dwarfs. Using several other parameters from the literature (Li detection, Hα emission strength, projected rotation velocity, and tangential velocity), we fail to uncover any measurable parameter that correlates with the anomalous J - K color.

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 399-402
Author(s):  
A.E. Gómez ◽  
C. Turon

The Hertzprung-Russel (HR) diagram luminosity calibration relies basically on three kinds of data: trigonometric parallaxes, kinematical data (proper motions and radial velocities) and cluster distances obtained by the zero-age main sequence fitting procedure. The most fundamental method to calculate the absolute magnitude is the use of trigonometric parallaxes, but up to now, accurate data only exist for stars contained in a small volume around the sun. Individual absolute magnitudes are obtained using trigonometric parallaxes or photometric and spectroscopic calibrations. In these calibrations the accuracy on the absolute magnitude determination ranges from ±0.m2 in the main sequence to ±0m5 in the giant branch. On the other hand, trigonometric parallaxes, kinematical data or cluster distances have been used to make statistical calibrations of the absolute magnitude. The standard error on the mean absolute magnitude calibrations ranges from ±0m3 to ±0m6 on the mean sequence, from ±0m5 to ±0m7 on thegiant branch and is of about 1mfor supergiants.Future improvements in the absolute magnitude determination will depend on the improvement of the basic data from the ground and space. A brief overview of the new available data is presented. In particular, the analysis of the first 30 months data of the Hipparcos mission (H30) (from the 37 months data of the whole mission) allows to perform a statistical evaluation of the improvements expected in the luminosity determination.


2000 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 117-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Briot ◽  
Noel Robichon

AbstractAbsolute magnitudes of Be and B stars are computed for each spectral type and luminosity class V and IV, using the Hipparcos parallax measurements. Some simulations have been carried out in order to estimate the effects which could bias the mean absolute magnitude calculations. As a result, only stars with σπ/π < 15% have been used. A first result is that B stars are fainter than previous estimations by about 0.5 magnitude on average. We then observe that on average Be stars are brighter than B stars of the same spectral type and this over-luminosity increases with the spectral type. A possible interpretation is proposed based on the fact that the rotational velocity of the late Be stars is near the critical rotational velocity.


1985 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 369-372
Author(s):  
W. Gliese ◽  
H. Jahreiss

The nearby stars are most favored for determining precise absolute magnitudes and for calibrating spectral-type, luminosity relations and color, luminosity relations. To demonstrate the main problems we discuss the (Mv,B-V) relation since (B-V) data are available for most of our candidates. At Yale Observatory van Altena is compiling a new catalog of trigonometric parallaxes. We feel deeply indebted to van Altena for making available to us a preliminary version of this catalog.


2003 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 437-442
Author(s):  
James Liebert

The kinematics of late M and certainly L dwarfs indicate that they have a mean age of no more than a few Gyr. This result does not rule out a mix of young brown dwarfs and ZAMS stars. Relative Hα emission strengths begin to decline in the late M dwarfs, even though about 100% of the M7-8 dwarfs show the weaker emission. Both the frequency and likely strength of this emission declines with spectral type among the L's and T's. A larger sample of late M and L dwarfs, which may provide more definitive tests of the kinematic and activity properties, is being assembled from our NStars project.Two unusual objects, one an M9.5e and the other a T6e, show persistent Hα emission at least an order of magnitude stronger than their counterparts of similar spectral type. If these are hypothesized to be very young stellar objects (≲10 Myr) like some observed in Rho Oph, Sigma Ori and Taurus – evolutionary models would require them to have very low masses: In particular, for an entity to fade to a late T dwarf temperature and luminosity within 10 Myr, its mass should be no more than several Jupiters. This seems implausible for an isolated object not near any obvious site of recent star formation. However, our attempt to show that the emission might be due to accretion in a binary system was unsuccessful.


2019 ◽  
Vol 486 (1) ◽  
pp. 1260-1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z H Zhang (张曾华) ◽  
A J Burgasser ◽  
M C Gálvez-Ortiz ◽  
N Lodieu ◽  
M R Zapatero Osorio ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We presented 15 new T dwarfs that were selected from UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey, Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy , and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer surveys, and confirmed with optical to near-infrared spectra obtained with the Very Large Telescope and the Gran Telescopio Canarias. One of these new T dwarfs is mildly metal-poor with slightly suppressed K-band flux. We presented a new X-shooter spectrum of a known benchmark sdT5.5 subdwarf, HIP 73786B. To better understand observational properties of brown dwarfs, we discussed transition zones (mass ranges) with low-rate hydrogen, lithium, and deuterium burning in brown dwarf population. The hydrogen burning transition zone is also the substellar transition zone that separates very low-mass stars, transitional, and degenerate brown dwarfs. Transitional brown dwarfs have been discussed in previous works of the Primeval series. Degenerate brown dwarfs without hydrogen fusion are the majority of brown dwarfs. Metal-poor degenerate brown dwarfs of the Galactic thick disc and halo have become T5+ subdwarfs. We selected 41 T5+ subdwarfs from the literature by their suppressed K-band flux. We studied the spectral-type–colour correlations, spectral-type–absolute magnitude correlations, colour–colour plots, and HR diagrams of T5+ subdwarfs, in comparison to these of L–T dwarfs and L subdwarfs. We discussed the T5+ subdwarf discovery capability of deep sky surveys in the 2020s.


2003 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 455-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Caballero ◽  
Víctor J. S. Béjar ◽  
Rafael Rebolo

We have obtained series of images in the near infrared J and Ks bands for seven L-type dwarfs with a duration of 3 to 6 hours. We present results on: 1) the amplitude of variability associated with atmospheric changes over time scales from minutes to several hours; 2) the search for cool companions in wide orbits; 3) the search for transits of brown dwarfs and planetary companions in very close orbits.


1976 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 75-78
Author(s):  
M. Grenon

The Geneva photometric system has been calibrated in terms of [M/H], θeff, Mv in the spectral range F5 to K4. As the spectral type is a datum generally available, we derive empirical relations showing the coupling of θeff and [M/H] at given spectral type and luminosity class. Similar relations are offered for the absolute magnitudes and provide a more accurate means for deriving spectroscopic parallaxes. Systematic effects on the estimation of the luminosity class are also shown.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 566-566
Author(s):  
C. Jaschek ◽  
A.E. Gómez

We have analysed the standards of the MK system in the B0-F5 spectral region with the help of Hipparcos parallaxes, using only stars for which the error on the absolute magnitude is ≤ 0.3 mag. The sample stars (about one hundred) were scrutinized for companions and for interstellar extinction. We find that the main sequence is a wide band and that, although in general giants and dwarfs have different absolute magnitudes, the separation between luminosity class V and III is not clear. We conclude that there is no strict relation between luminosity class and absolute magnitude. The relation is only a statistical one and has a large intrinsic dispersion. We have analysed similarly the system of standards defined by Garrison and Gray (1994) separating low and high rotational velocity standards. We find similar effects as in the original MK system.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 567-567
Author(s):  
E. Antonello ◽  
L. Mantegazza ◽  
E. Poretti

The absolute magnitudes of δ Scuti stars derived from parallaxes measured by the Hipparcos satellite were compared with the previous estimates based on photometric uvby² indices, and significant differences were found which are related to photometric effects of metallicity and rotational velocity. A reliable calibration of Mv in terms of the photometric indices shall include an estimate of these effects. It is important also to take into account the possible presence of unresolved close companions in order to fully exploit the accuracy of Mv of nearby stars derived from the trigonometric parallaxes. The Mv of few bright SX Phe stars support the period-luminosity relation obtained with ground based observations of globular clusters, while it does not seem to confirm the empirical dependence of this relation on the metallicity. Some high amplitude δ Scuti stars with intermediate or normal metallicity and small and uncertain parallax have apparently a very low luminosity. Simulations of Mv determinations from observed parallaxes based on the discussion of observational errors by Lutz and Kelker (1973) have shown that the low luminosity could be an effect related to these errors.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 435-435
Author(s):  
Hugh R.A. Jones ◽  
Mike R.S. Hawkins

In a recent survey for faint red stars from a digital stack of Schmidt plates a number of candidate objects were identified. Parallax’s for three of these objects have been reported showing them to have luminosities which interpreted within the available evolutionary models indicate them to be good brown dwarf candidates. Here we examine spectra of these objects and others from the plate stack. Using standard spectral indices we find that for a given spectral type their spectra are more consistent with the Pleiades brown dwarfs (PPL 15, Teide 1 and Calar 3) than with standard late-type M dwarfs. Our interpretation is that this is due to their selection by RF IN colours which at values > 3 preferentially selects objects with relatively low gravities. For late-type M dwarfs and brown dwarfs low gravities are expected to be a reliable indication of youth. We also notice that the stack objects generally have strong FeH absorption for their spectral type. Current model atmospheres suggest that FeH strongly increases in strength toward lower metallicities and lower temperatures. We believe that this is not consistent with the available observational evidence from late-type M dwarfs. It is possible that solid Fe is forming inthe low temperature atmospheres relatively depleting FeH strengths toward lower temperatures. We find some evidence that for dwarfs at low temperatures dust formation is less prevalent in lower gravity objects suggesting that dwarfs at low temperatures stronger FeH may be an indication of youth. In addition to the spectral evidence the three stack objects whose parallax’s have been measured show small tangential velocities which is a further indication of youth.


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