Vanessa P. Bailey

The First Hundred Brown Dwarfs Discovered by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)

We present ground-based spectroscopic verification of 6 Y dwarfs (see also Cushing et al.), 89 T dwarfs, 8 L dwarfs, and 1 M dwarf identified by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). Eighty of these are cold brown dwarfs with spectral types ≥T6, six of which have been announced earlier by Mainzer et al. and Burgasser et al. We present color-color and color-type diagrams showing the locus of M, L, T, and Y dwarfs in WISE color space. Near-infrared and, in a few cases, optical spectra are presented for these discoveries. Near-infrared classifications as late as early Y are presented and objects with peculiar spectra are discussed. Using these new discoveries, we are also able to extend the optical T dwarf classification scheme from T8 to T9. After deriving an absolute WISE 4.6 μm (W2) magnitude versus spectral type relation, we estimate spectrophotometric distances to our discoveries. We also use available astrometric measurements to provide preliminary trigonometric parallaxes to four of our discoveries, which have types of L9 pec (red), T8, T9, and Y0; all of these lie within 10 pc of the Sun. The Y0 dwarf, WISE 1541–2250, is the closest at 2.8^(+1.3)_(–0.6) pc; if this 2.8 pc value persists after continued monitoring, WISE 1541–2250 will become the seventh closest stellar system to the Sun. Another 10 objects, with types between T6 and >Y0, have spectrophotometric distance estimates also placing them within 10 pc. The closest of these, the T6 dwarf WISE 1506+7027, is believed to fall at a distance of ~4.9 pc. WISE multi-epoch positions supplemented with positional info primarily from the Spitzer/Infrared Array Camera allow us to calculate proper motions and tangential velocities for roughly one-half of the new discoveries. This work represents the first step by WISE to complete a full-sky, volume-limited census of late-T and Y dwarfs. Using early results from this census, we present preliminary, lower limits to the space density of these objects and discuss constraints on both the functional form of the mass function and the low-mass limit of star formation.

Accreting protoplanets in the LkCa 15 transition disk

Exoplanet detections have revolutionized astronomy, offering new insights into solar system architecture and planet demographics. While nearly 1,900 exoplanets have now been discovered and confirmed, none are still in the process of formation. Transition disks, protoplanetary disks with inner clearings best explained by the influence of accreting planets, are natural laboratories for the study of planet formation. Some transition disks show evidence for the presence of young planets in the form of disk asymmetries or infrared sources detected within their clearings, as in the case of LkCa 15 (refs 8, 9). Attempts to observe directly signatures of accretion onto protoplanets have hitherto proven unsuccessful. Here we report adaptive optics observations of LkCa 15 that probe within the disk clearing. With accurate source positions over multiple epochs spanning 2009–2015, we infer the presence of multiple companions on Keplerian orbits. We directly detect Hα emission from the innermost companion, LkCa 15 b, evincing hot (about 10,000 kelvin) gas falling deep into the potential well of an accreting protoplanet.

A STUDY OF THE DIVERSE T DWARF POPULATION REVEALED BY WISE

We report the discovery of 87 new T dwarfs uncovered with the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and 3 brown dwarfs with extremely red near-infrared colors that exhibit characteristics of both L and T dwarfs. Two of the new T dwarfs are likely binaries with L7 ± 1 primaries and mid-type T secondaries. In addition, our follow-up program has confirmed 10 previously identified T dwarfs and 4 photometrically selected L and T dwarf candidates in the literature. This sample, along with the previous WISE discoveries, triples the number of known brown dwarfs with spectral types later than T5. Using the WISE All-Sky Source Catalog we present updated color-color and color-type diagrams for all the WISE-discovered T and Y dwarfs. Near-infrared spectra of the new discoveries are presented along with spectral classifications. To accommodate later T dwarfs we have modified the integrated flux method of determining spectral indices to instead use the median flux. Furthermore, a newly defined J-narrow index differentiates the early-type Y dwarfs from late-type T dwarfs based on the J-band continuum slope. The K/J indices for this expanded sample show that 32% of late-type T dwarfs have suppressed K-band flux and are blue relative to the spectral standards, while only 11% are redder than the standards. Comparison of the Y/J and K/J index to models suggests diverse atmospheric conditions and supports the possible re-emergence of clouds after the L/T transition. We also discuss peculiar brown dwarfs and candidates that were found not to be substellar, including two young stellar objects and two active galactic nuclei. The substantial increase in the number of known late-type T dwarfs provides a population that will be used to test models of cold atmospheres and star formation. The coolest WISE-discovered brown dwarfs are the closest of their type and will remain the only sample of their kind for many years to come.

MAGELLAN ADAPTIVE OPTICS FIRST-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS of the EXOPLANET β PIC b. II. 3-5 μm DIRECT IMAGING with MagAO+Clio, and the EMPIRICAL BOLOMETRIC LUMINOSITY of A SELF-LUMINOUS GIANT PLANET

We thank the Magellan and Las Campanas Observatory staff for making this well-engineered, smoothly operated telescope and site possible. We would especially like to thank Povilas Palunas for help over the entire MagAO commissioning run. Juan Gallardo, Patricio Jones, Emilio Cerda, Felipe Sanchez, Gabriel Martin, Maurico Navarrete, Jorge Bravo, Victor Merino, Patricio Pinto, Gabriel Prieto, Mauricio Martinez, Alberto Pasten, Jorge Araya, Hugo Rivera, and the whole team of technical experts helped perform many exacting tasks in a very professional manner. Glenn Eychaner, David Osip, and Frank Perez all gave expert support which was fantastic. The entire logistics, dining, housekeeping, and hospitality staff provide for an excellent, healthy environment that ensured the wellness of our team throughout the commissioning runs. It is a privilege to be able to commission an AO system with such a fine staff and site. The MagAO system was developed with support from the NSF, MRI and TSIP programs. The VisAO camera was developed with help from the NSF ATI program. K.M.M. and J.R.M. were supported under contract with the California Institute of Technology, funded by NASA through the Sagan Fellowship Program. J.R.M. is grateful for the generous support of the Phoenix ARCS Foundation. L.M.C.s and Y.-L.W.s research were supported by NSF AAG and NASA Origins of Solar Systems grants. V.B. was supported in part by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (DGE-1143953). We thank the anonymous referee for a careful, timely review that significantly improved the manuscript. Facility: Magellan:Clay (MagAO+Clio) .

197 CANDIDATES AND 104 VALIDATED PLANETS IN K2's FIRST FIVE FIELDS

NASA through the Sagan Fellowship Program; NASA through a Hubble Fellowship - Space Telescope Science Institute; NASA [NAS 5-26555, NNH14CK55B]; National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship [2014184874]; FONDECYT [1130857]; BASAL CATA [PFB-06]; Ministry for the Economy, Development, and Tourisms Programa Iniciativa Cientifica Milenio [IC 120009]; Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; National Science Foundation [AST-0906060, AST-0960343, AST-1207891]; Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation; Max Planck Institute for Astronomy; Heidelberg; Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching; Johns Hopkins University; Durham University; University of Edinburgh; Queens University Belfast; Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network Incorporated; National Central University of Taiwan; Space Telescope Science Institute; National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NNX08AR22G]; University of Maryland; Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE)

Characterization of the gaseous companion κ Andromedae b - New Keck and LBTI high-contrast observations

Context. We previously reported the direct detection of a low mass companion at a projected separation of 55 2 AU around the B9 type star Andromedae. The properties of the system (mass ratio, separation) make it a benchmark for the understanding of the formation and evolution of gas giant planets and brown dwarfs on wide-orbits. Aims. We present new angular di erential imaging (ADI) images of the system at 2.146 (Ks), 3.776 (L’), 4.052 (NB 4:05) and 4.78 m (M’) obtained with Keck/NIRC2 and LBTI/LMIRCam, as well as more accurate near-infrared photometry of the star with the MIMIR instrument. We aim to determine the near-infrared spectral energy distribution (SED) of the companion and use it to characterize the object. Methods. We used analysis methods adapted to ADI to extract the companion flux. We compared the photometry of the object to reference young/old objects and to a set of seven PHOENIX-based atmospheric models of cool objects accounting for the formation of dust. We used evolutionary models to derive mass estimates considering a wide range of plausible initial conditions. Finally, we used dedicated formation models to discuss the possible origin of the companion. Results. We derive a more accurate J = 15:86 0:21, H = 14:95 0:13, Ks = 14:32 0:09 mag for And b. We redetect the companion in all our high contrast observations. We confirm previous contrasts obtained at Ks and L’ band. We derive NB 4:05 = 13:0 0:2 and M 0 = 13:3 0:3 mag and estimate Log10(L=L ) = 3:76 0:06. Atmospheric models yield Te = 1900 +100 K. They do not set constrains on the surface gravity. “Hot-start” evolutionary models predict masses of 14 +25 MJup based on the luminosity and temperature estimates, and considering a conservative age range for the system (30 +120 Myr). “warm-start” evolutionary tracks constrain the mass to M 11MJup. Conclusions. The mass of Andromedae b mostly falls in the brown-dwarf regime, due to remaining uncertainties in age and mass-luminosity models. According to the formation models, disk instability in a primordial disk could account for the position and a wide range of plausible masses of And b.

On-sky operations and performance of LMIRcam at the Large Binocular Telescope

The L/M-band (3−5 μm) InfraRed Camera (LMIRcam) sits at the combined focal plane of the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI), ultimately imaging the coherently combined focus of the LBT’s two 8.4-meter mirrors. LMIRcam achieved first light at the LBT in May 2011 using a single AO-enabled 8.4-meter aperture. With the delivery of LBT’s final adaptive secondary mirror in Fall of 2011, dual-aperture AO-corrected interferometric fringes were realized in April 2012. We report on the performance of these configurations and characterize the noise performance of LMIRcam’s HAWAII-2RG 5.3-μm cutoff array paired with Cornell FORCAST readout electronics. In addition, we describe recent science highlights and discuss future improvements to the LMIRcam hardware.

The LEECH Exoplanet Imaging Survey. Further constraints on the planet architecture of the HR 8799 system

© ESO, 2015. Context. Astrometric monitoring of directly imaged exoplanets allows the study of their orbital parameters and system architectures. Because most directly imaged planets have long orbital periods (>20 AU), accurate astrometry is challenging when based on data acquired on timescales of a few years and usually with different instruments. The LMIRCam camera on the Large Binocular Telescope is being used for the LBT Exozodi Exoplanet Common Hunt (LEECH) survey to search for and characterize young and adolescent exoplanets in L′ band (3.8 μm), including their system architectures. Aims. We first aim to provide a good astrometric calibration of LMIRCam. Then, we derive new astrometry, test the predictions of the orbital model of 8:4:2:1 mean motion resonance proposed for the system, and perform new orbital fitting of the HR 8799 bcde planets. We also present deep limits on a putative fifth planet inside the known planets. Methods. We use observations of HR 8799 and the Θ1 Ori C field obtained during the same run in October 2013. Results. We first characterize the distortion of LMIRCam. We determine a platescale and a true north orientation for the images of 10.707±0.012 mas/pix and -0.430±0.076°, respectively. The errors on the platescale and true north orientation translate into astrometric accuracies at a separation of 1′′ of 1.1 mas and 1.3 mas, respectively. The measurements for all planets agree within 3σ with a predicted ephemeris. The orbital fitting based on the new astrometric measurements favors an architecture for the planetary system based on 8:4:2:1 mean motion resonance. The detection limits allow us to exclude a fifth planet slightly brighter or more massive than HR 8799 b at the location of the 2:1 resonance with HR 8799 e (∼9.5 AU) and about twice as bright as HR 8799 cde at the location of the 3:1 resonance with HR 8799 e (∼7.5 AU).

Nulling Data Reduction and On-sky Performance of the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Exoplanet Exploration Program; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; European Union through ERC [279973]

A narrow, edge-on disk resolved around HD 106906 with SPHERE

Context. HD 106906AB is the only young binary system so far around which a planet has been imaged and a debris disk has been shown to exist, thanks to a strong IR excess. As such, it represents a unique opportunity for studying the dynamics of young planetary systems. Aims. We aim at further investigating the close (tens of au scales) environment of the HD 106906AB system. Methods. We used the extreme adaptive-optics-fed, high-contrast imager SPHERE that has recently been installed on the VLT to observe HD 106906. Both the IRDIS imager and the Integral Field Spectrometer were used. Results. We discovered a highly inclined, ring-like disk at a distance of 65 au from the star. The disk shows a strong brightness asymmetry with respect to its semi-major axis. It shows a smooth outer edge, compatible with ejection of small grains by the stellar radiation pressure. We show furthermore that the planets projected position is significantly above the PA of the disk. Given the determined disk inclination, it is not excluded, however, that the planet could still orbit within the disk plane if at a large separation (2000 3000 au). We identified several additional point sources in the SPHERE /IRDIS field of view that appear to be background objects. We compare this system with other debris disks sharing similarities, and we briefly discuss the present results in the framework of dynamical evolution.