Detection of Hα emission in a methane (T type) brown dwarf

We report the detection of H alpha emission in the T dwarf (methane brown dwarf) 2MASSW J1237392 + 652615 over three days using the Keek Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph. The measured line flux, log (L-H alpha/L-bol) = -4.3, is roughly consistent with early M dwarf activity levels and inconsistent with decreasing activity trends in late M and L dwarfs. Similar emission is not seen in two other T dwarfs. We speculate on several mechanisms that may be responsible for emission, including a strong magnetic field, continuous flaring, acoustic heat generation, and a close [a similar to (4-20)R-J] interacting binary, with the cooler component overflowing its Roche lobe. We suggest that the M9.5 Ve PC 0025 + 0447 could be a warm analog to 2MASS J1237+65 and may be powered by the latter mechanism.