D. N. Murray

The discovery of an M4+T8.5 binary system

The original article can be found at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com Copyright Blackwell Publishing / Royal Astronomical Society. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.14620.x

The properties of the T8.5p dwarf Ross 458C

The definitive version can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ Copyright The Royal Astronomical Society

The discovery of a very cool binary system

The definitive version can be found at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/ Copyright Royal Astronomical Society

76 T dwarfs from the UKIDSS LAS: benchmarks, kinematics and an updated space density

We report the discovery of 76 new T dwarfs from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS). Near-infrared broad- and narrow-band photometry and spectroscopy are presented for the new objects, along with Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and warm-Spitzer photometry. Proper motions for 128 UKIDSS T dwarfs are presented from a new two epoch LAS proper motion catalogue. We use these motions to identify two new benchmark systems: LHS 6176AB, a T8p+M4 pair and HD 118865AB, a T5.5+F8 pair. Using age constraints from the primaries and evolutionary models to constrain the radii, we have estimated their physical properties from their bolometric luminosity. We compare the colours and properties of known benchmark T dwarfs to the latest model atmospheres and draw two principal conclusions. First, it appears that the H - [4.5] and J - W2 colours are more sensitive to metallicity than has previously been recognized, such that differences in metallicity may dominate over differences in T-eff when considering relative properties of cool objects using these colours. Secondly, the previously noted apparent dominance of young objects in the late-T dwarf sample is no longer apparent when using the new model grids and the expanded sample of late-T dwarfs and benchmarks. This is supported by the apparently similar distribution of late-T dwarfs and earlier type T dwarfs on reduced proper motion diagrams that we present. Finally, we present updated space densities for the late-T dwarfs, and compare our values to simulation predictions and those from WISE.

Parallaxes and physical properties of 11 mid-to-late T dwarfs

Aims. We present parallaxes of 11 mid-to-late T dwarfs observed in the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey. We use these results to test the reliability of model predictions in magnitude‐color space, determine a magnitude-spectral type calibration, and, estimate a bolometric luminosity and effective temperature range for the targets. Methods. We used observations from the UKIRT WFCAM instrument pipeline processed at the Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit. The parallaxes and proper motions of the sample were calculated using standard procedures. The bolometric luminosity was estimated using near- and mid-infrared observations with two different methods. The corresponding effective temperature ranges were found adopting a large age-radius range. Results. We show the models are unable to predict the colors of the latest T dwarfs indicating the incompleteness of model opacities for NH3 ,C H4 and H2 as the temperature declines. We report the effective temperature ranges obtained.

47 new T dwarfs from the UKIDSS Large Area Survey

The definitive version can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com Copyright Royal Astronomical Society

Discovery of the benchmark metal‐poor T8 dwarf BD +01° 2920B

We have searched the WISE first data release for widely separated (610,000AU) late T dwarf companions to Hipparcos and Gliese stars. We have discovered a new binary system containing a K-band suppressed T8p dwarf WISEP J1423+0116 and the mildly metal poor ([Fe/H]= 0.38±0.06) primary BD+01 2920 (Hip 70319), a G1 dwarf at a distance of 17.2pc. This new benchmark has Teff=680±55K and a mass of 20 50MJup. Its spectral properties are well modelled except for known discrepancies in the Y and K bands. Based on the well determined metallicity of its companion, the properties of BD+01 2920B imply that the currently known T dwarfs are dominated by young lowmass objects. We also present an accurate proper motion for the T8.5 dwarf WISEP J075003.84+272544.8.

Discovery of a T dwarf + white dwarf binary system

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Blue not brown: UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey T dwarfs with suppressed K-band flux

We have used blue near-infrared colours to select a group of 12 spectroscopically confirmed United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope (UKIRT) Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) T dwarfs later than T4. From amongst these, we identify the first two kinematic halo T-dwarf candidates. Blue near-infrared colours have been attributed to collisionally induced hydrogen absorption, which is enhanced by either high surface gravity or low metallicity. Proper motions are measured and distances estimated, allowing the determination of tangential velocities. U and V components are estimated for our objects by assuming V rad = 0. From this, ULAS J0926+0835 is found to have U = 62 km s -1 and V = -140 km s -1 , and ULAS J1319 + 1209 is found to have U = 192 km s -1 and V = -92 km s -1 . These values are consistent with potential halo membership. However, these are not the bluest objects in our selection. The bluest is ULAS J1233+1219, with J - K = -1.16 ± 0.07, and surprisingly this object is found to have young disc-like U and V. Our sample also contains Hip 73786B, companion to the metal-poor K5 dwarf Hip 73786. Hip 73786 is a metal-poor star, with [Fe/H] = -0.3 ± 0.1 and is located at a distance of 19 ± 0.7 pc. U, V, W space velocity components are calculated for Hip 73786A and B, finding that U = -48 ± 7 km s -1 , V = -75 ± 4 km s -1 and W = -44 ± 8 km s -1 . From the properties of the primary, Hip 73786B is found to be at least 1.6-Gyr old. As a metal-poor object, Hip 73786B represents an important addition to the sample of known T dwarf benchmarks.

A spectroscopic and proper motion search of Sloan Digital Sky Survey : red subdwarfs in binary systems

Red subdwarfs in binary systems are crucial for both model calibration and spectral classification. We search for red subdwarfs in binary systems from a sample of high proper motion objects with Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectroscopy. We present here discoveries from this search, as well as highlight several additional objects of interest. We find 30 red subdwarfs in wide binary systems including: two with spectral type of esdM5.5, 6 companions to white dwarfs and 3 carbon-enhanced red subdwarfs with normal red subdwarf companions. 15 red subdwarfs in our sample are partially resolved close binary systems. With this binary sample, we estimate the low limit of the red subdwarf binary fraction of similar to 10 per cent. We find that the binary fraction goes down with decreasing masses and metallicities of red subdwarfs. A spectroscopic esdK7 subdwarf + white dwarf binary candidate is also reported. 30 new M subdwarfs have spectral type of >= M6 in our sample. We also derive relationships between spectral types and absolute magnitudes in the optical and near-infrared for M and L subdwarfs, and we present an M subdwarf sample with measured U, V, W space velocities.