Photometric variability at the L/T dwarf boundary

被引:73
作者
Enoch, ML
Brown, ME
Burgasser, AJ
机构
[1] CALTECH, Dept Astron, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
[2] CALTECH, Div Geol & Planetary Sci, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
[3] Univ Calif Los Angeles, Div Astron & Astrophys, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
关键词
stars : individual (2MASSW J0030300-145033; SDSSp J015141.69+124429.6); stars; low-mass; brown dwarfs; stars : variables : other;
D O I
10.1086/376598
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
We have monitored the photometric variability of nine field L and T brown dwarfs for 10 nights during the course of 1 month. Observations were obtained in the K-s band with the Palomar 60 inch (1.5 m) telescope Near-Infrared Camera. Results of statistical analyses indicate that at least three of the nine targets show significant evidence for variability, and three more are possibly variable. Fractional deviations from the median flux vary from 5% to 25%. Two of the variable targets, 2MASS 0030 - 14 ( L7) and SDSS 0151+ 12 (T1), have marginally significant peaks in their periodograms. The phased light curves show evidence for periodic behavior on timescales of 1.5 and 3.0 hr, respectively. No significant correlations between variability amplitude and spectral type or J - K-s color are found. While it is clear that variability exists in objects near the L/T dwarf boundary, we find no evidence that variability near the L/T boundary is more likely than it is for early L dwarfs.
引用
收藏
页码:1006 / 1016
页数:11
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