H. Bouy

Spectroscopic Rotational Velocities of Brown Dwarfs

We have obtained projected rotation velocities (vrot sin i) of a sample of 19 ultracool dwarfs with spectral types in the interval M6.5-T8 using high-resolution, near-infrared spectra obtained with NIRSPEC and the Keck II telescope. Among our targets there are two young brown dwarfs, two likely field stars, and 15 likely brown dwarfs (30-72 MJup) in the solar neighborhood. Our results indicate that the T-type dwarfs are fast rotators in marked contrast to M-type stars. We have derived vrot sin i velocities between ≤15 and 40 km s-1 for them and have found no clear evidence for T dwarfs rotating strongly faster than L dwarfs. However, there is a hint for an increasing lower envelope on moving from mid-M to L spectral types in the vrot sin i-spectral-type diagram that was previously reported in the literature; our vrot sin i results extend it to even cooler types. Assuming that field brown dwarfs have a size of 0.08-0.1 R☉, we can place an upper limit of 12.5 hr on the equatorial rotation period of T-type brown dwarfs. In addition, we have compared our vrot sin i measurements to spectroscopic rotational velocities of very young brown dwarfs of similar mass available in the literature. The comparison, although model dependent, suggests that brown dwarfs lose some angular momentum during their contraction; however, their spin-down time seems to be significantly longer than that of solar-type to early M stars.

Herschel-Planck dust optical-depth and column-density maps - I. Method description and results for Orion

We present high-resolution, high dynamic range column-density and color-temperature maps of the Orion complex using a combination of Planck dust-emission maps, Herschel dust-emission maps, and 2MASS NIR dust-extinction maps. The column-density maps combine the robustness of the 2MASS NIR extinction maps with the resolution and coverage of the Herschel and Planck dustemission maps and constitute the highest dynamic range column-density maps ever constructed for the entire Orion complex, covering 0:01 mag < AK < 30 mag, or 2 10 20 cm 2 < N < 5 10 23 cm 2 . We determined the ratio of the 2:2µm extinction coe cient to the 850µm opacity and found that the values obtained for both Orion A and B are significantly lower than the predictions of standard dust models, but agree with newer models that incorporate icy silicate-graphite conglomerates for the grain population. We show that the cloud projected pdf, over a large range of column densities, can be well fitted by a simple power law. Moreover, we considered the local Schmidt-law for star formation, and confirm earlier results, showing that the protostar surface density follows a simple law / gas, with 2.

High-resolution imaging of Kepler planet host candidates - A comprehensive comparison of different techniques

The Kepler mission has discovered thousands of planet candidates. Currently, some of them have already been discarded; more than 200 have been confirmed by follow-up observations, and several hundreds have been validated. However, most of them are still awaiting for confirmation. Thus, priorities (in terms of the probability of the candidate being a real planet) must be established for subsequent observations. The motivation of this work is to provide a set of isolated (good) host candidates to be further tested by other techniques. We identify close companions of the candidates that could have contaminated the light curve of the planet host. We used the AstraLux North instrument located at the 2.2 m telescope in the Calar Alto Observatory to obtain diffraction-limited images of 174 Kepler objects of interest. The lucky-imaging technique used in this work is compared to other AO and speckle imaging observations of Kepler planet host candidates. We define a new parameter, the blended source confidence level (BSC), to assess the probability of an object to have blended non-detected eclipsing binaries capable of producing the detected transit. We find that 67.2% of the observed Kepler hosts are isolated within our detectability limits, and 32.8% have at least one visual companion at angular separations below 6 arcsec. We find close companions (below 3 arcsec) for the 17.2% of the sample. The planet properties of this sample of non-isolated hosts are revised. We report one possible S-type binary (KOI-3158). We also report three possible false positives (KOIs 1230.01, 3649.01, and 3886.01) due to the presence of close companions. The BSC parameter is calculated for all the isolated targets and compared to both the value prior to any high-resolution image and, when possible, to observations from previous high-spatial resolution surveys in the Kepler sample.

Kepler-91b: a planet at the end of its life Planet and giant host star properties via light-curve variations ,

Context. The evolution of planetary systems is intimately linked to the evolution of their host star. Our understanding of the whole planetary evolution process is based on the large planet diversity observed so far. To date, only few tens of planets have been discovered orbiting stars ascending the Red Giant Branch. Although several theories have been proposed, the question of how planets die remains open due to the small number statistics, making clear the need of enlarging the sample of planets around post-main sequence stars. Aims. In this work we study the giant star Kepler-91 (KIC 8219268) in order to determine the nature of a transiting companion. This system was detected by the Kepler Space Telescope, which identified small dims in its light cur ve with a period of 6.246580±0.000082 days. However, its planetary confirmation is needed due to th e large pixel size of the Kepler camera which can hide other stellar configurations able to mimic planet-like transit events. Methods. We analyse Kepler photometry to: 1) re-calculate transit parameters, 2) stud y the light-curve modulations, and 3) to perform an asteroseismic analysis (accurate stellar parameter det ermination) by identifying solar-like oscillations on the periodogram. We also used a high-resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio spec trum obtained with the Calar Alto Fiber-fed ´ Echelle spectrograph (CAFE) to measure stellar properties. Additionally, false-positiv e scenarios were rejected by obtaining high-resolution images with the AstraLux lucky-imaging camera on the 2.2 m telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory. Results. We confirm the planetary nature of the object transiting the s tar Kepler-91 by deriving a mass of Mp = 0.88 +0.17 −0.33 MJup and a planetary radius of Rp = 1.384 +0.011 −0.054 RJup. Asteroseismic analysis produces a stellar radius of R⋆ = 6.30± 0.16 R⊙ and a mass of M⋆ = 1.31± 0.10 M⊙. We find that its eccentric orbit ( e = 0.066 +0.013 −0.017 ) is just 1.32 +0.07 −0.22 R⋆ away from the stellar atmosphere at the pericenter. We also detected three small dims in the phase-folded light-curve. The combination of two of them agrees with the theoretical characteristics expected for secondary eclip se. Conclusions. Kepler-91b could be the previous stage of the planet engulfment, recently detected for BD+48 740. Our estimations show that Kepler-91b will be swallowed by its host star in less than 55 Myr. Among the confirmed planets around giant stars, this is the planetary-mass body closest to its host star. At pericen ter passage, the star subtends an angle of 48 ◦ , covering around 10% of the sky as seen from the planet. The planetary atmosphere seems to be inflated probably due to the high stellar irradiation.

Spectroscopy of very low mass stars and brown dwarfs in the Lambda Orionis star forming region I. Enlarging the census down to the planetary mass domain in Collinder 69

Context. Whilst there is a generally accepted evolutionary scheme for the formation of low‐mass stars, the analogous processes when moving down in mass to the brown dwarfs regime are not yet well understood. Aims. In this first paper we try to build the most complete and unbiased spectroscopically confirmed census of the population of Collinder 69, the central cluster of the Lambda Orionis star forming region, as a first step in addressing the question of how brown dwarfs and planetary mass objects form. Methods. We have studied age dependent features in optical and near-infrared spectra of candidate members to the cluster (such as alkali lines and accretion associated indicators). In addition, we have complemented that study with the analysis of other youth indicators like X-ray emission or mid-infrared excess. Results. We have confirmed the membership to Collinder 69 of 90 photometric candidate members. As a byproduct we have determined a temperature scale for young M, very low‐mass stars and brown dwarfs. We have assembled one of the most complete Initial Mass Functions from 0.016 to 20 M . And, finally, we have studied the implications of the spatial distribution of the confirmed members on the proposed mechanisms of brown dwarfs formation.

AA Tauri’s sudden and long-lasting deepening: enhanced extinction by its circumstellar disk

Context. AA Tau has been monitored for more than 20 years since 1987 and exhibited a nearly constant brightness level of V = 12:5 mag. We report here that in 2011 it suddenly faded, becoming 2 mag fainter in the V-band, and has remained in this deep state since then. Aims. We investigate the origin of the sudden dimming of the AA Tau system. Methods. We report on new optical and near-IR photometry and spectroscopy obtained during the fading event. Results. The system appears to be much redder and fainter than it was in the bright state. Moreover, the 8.2 d photometric period continuously observed for more than 20 years is not detected during most of the deep state. The analysis of the system’s brightness and colors suggests that the visual extinction on the line of sight has increased by about 3‐4 mag in the deep state. At optical wavelengths, the system appears to be dominated by scattered light, probably originating from the upper surface layers of a highly inclined circumstellar disk. The profiles of the Balmer lines have significantly changed as well, with the disappearance of a central absorption component regularly observed in the bright state. We ascribe this change to the scattering of the system’s spectrum by circumstellar dust. Remarkably, the mass accretion rate in the inner disk and onto the central star has not changed as the system faded. Conclusions. We conclude that the deepening of the AA Tau system is due to a sudden increase of circumstellar dust extinction on the line of sight without concomitant change in the accretion rate. We suggest that the enhanced obscuration may be produced by a nonaxisymmetric overdense region in the disk, located at a distance of 7.7 AU or more, that was recently brought into the line of sight by its Keplerian motion around the central star.

Multiplicity in transiting planet-host stars - A lucky imaging study of Kepler candidates

Context. In the exoplanetary era, the Kepler spacecraft is causing a revolution by discovering thousands of new planet candidates. However, a follow-up program is needed to reject false candidates and fully characterize the bona-fide exoplanets. Aims. Our main aims are to 1./ detect and analyze close companions inside the typical Kepler point spread function (PSF) to study whether they are the responsible for the dimming found in Kepler light curves, 2./ study the change in the stellar and planetary parameters caused by an unresolved object, 3./ help validate the Kepler objects of interest (KOI) that do not have any object inside the Kepler PSF, and 4./ study the multiplicity rate of planet-host candidates. Such a large sample of observed planet-host candidates allows us to derive statistics for close (visual or bounded) companions to the harboring star. Methods. We present lucky imaging observations for a total of 98 KOIs. This technique is based on the acquisition of thousands of very-short-exposure-time images. A selection and combination of a small amount of the highest quality frames provides a high resolution image with objects having a 0.1 arcsec PSF. We apply this technique to carry out observations in the Sloan i and z filters of our Kepler candidates. Results. We find blended objects inside the Kepler PSF for a significant percentage of KOIs. On the one hand, only 58.2% of the hosts do not have any object within 6 arcsec. On the other hand, we find 19 companions closer than 3 arcsec in 17 KOIs. According to their magnitudes and i − z colors, 8 of them could be physically bound to the host star.

Orion revisited - I. The massive cluster in front of the Orion nebula cluster

The aim of this work is to characterize the stellar population between Earth and the Orion A molecular cloud where the well known star formation benchmark Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) is embedded. We use the denser regions the Orion A cloud to block optical background light, effectively isolating the stellar population in front of it. We then use a multi-wavelength observational approach to characterize the clouds foreground stellar population. We find that there is a rich stellar population in front of the Orion A cloud, from B-stars to M-stars, with a distinct 1) spatial distribution, 2) luminosity function, and 3) velocity dispersion from the reddened population inside the Orion A cloud. The spatial distribution of this population peaks strongly around NGC 1980 (iota Ori) and is, in all likelihood, the extended stellar content of this poorly studied cluster. We infer an age of ~4-5 Myr for NGC 1980 and estimate a cluster population of the order of 2000 stars, which makes it one of the most massive clusters in the entire Orion complex. What is currently taken in the literature as the ONC is then a mix of several intrinsically different populations, namely: 1) the youngest population, including the Trapezium cluster and ongoing star formation in the dense gas inside the nebula, 2) the foreground population, dominated by the NGC 1980 cluster, and 3) the poorly constrained population of foreground and background Galactic field stars. Our results support a scenario where the ONC and L1641N are not directly associated with NGC 1980, i.e., they are not the same population emerging from its parental cloud, but are instead distinct overlapping populations. This result calls for a revision of most of the observables in the benchmark ONC region (e.g., ages, age spread, cluster size, mass function, disk frequency, etc.). (abridged)

A multiwavelength radial velocity search for planets around the brown dwarf LP 944-20

The nearby brown dwarf LP 944-20 has been monitored for radial velocity variability at optical and near-infrared wavelengths using the VLT/UVES and the Keck/NIRSPEC, respectively. The UVES radial velocity data obtained over 14 nights spanning a baseline of 841 days show significant variability with an amplitude of 3.5 km s-1. The periodogram analysis of the UVES data indicates a possible period between 2.5 and 3.7 hr, which is likely due to the rotation of the brown dwarf. However, the NIRSPEC data obtained over 6 nights show an rms dispersion of only 0.36 km s-1 and do not follow the periodic trend. These results indicate that the variability seen with UVES is likely to be due to rotationally modulated inhomogeneous surface features. We suggest that future planet searches around very low mass stars and brown dwarfs using radial velocities will be better conducted in the near-infrared than in the optical.

Protoplanetary disk lifetimes vs stellar mass and possible implications for giant planet populations

We study the dependence of protoplanetary disk evolution on stellar mass using a large sample of young stellar objects in nearby young star-forming regions. We update the protoplanetary disk fractions presented in our recent work (paper I of this series) derived for 22 nearby ( 2 M