arXiv subjects

Christopher A. Theissen

Publications and source records attributed to Christopher A. Theissen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Discovery of the Exceptionally Short Period Ultracool Dwarf Binary LP 413-53AB

We report the detection of large-amplitude, rapid radial velocity (RV) variations and line-splitting in high-resolution Keck/NIRSPEC spectra of the M9 dwarf LP 413-53. We attribute these features to binary motion. Analyzing data spanning 15 years, we infer a preliminary orbital period of 0.7106156$\pm$0.0000002 day, an eccentricity of 0.0088$\pm$0.0017, a primary RV semi-amplitude of 23.70$\pm$0.05 km s$^{-1}$, and a secondary RV semi-amplitude of 28.41$\pm$0.06 km s$^{-1}$, implying a system mass ratio $M_\mathrm{secondary}$/$M_\mathrm{primary}$ = 0.8340$\pm$0.0017. These measurements identify LP 413-53 as the shortest-period ultracool binary discovered to date, and one of the smallest separation main sequence binaries known. The position and velocity of the system rule out previously reported membership in the Hyades Moving Group, and indicate that this is likely a pair of evolved (age $\gtrsim$ 1 Gyr), very-low-mass stars. Assuming masses consistent with evolved late-M and L dwarfs, we estimate an orbital separation of 0.0081$-$0.0084 au or 17$-$19 stellar radii, and an orbital inclination angle of 24$^{\circ}$, making it unlikely that this system exhibits eclipse events. The larger radii of these stars at young ages would have put them near contact at the system's current separation, and we speculate that this system has undergone dynamical evolution, either through orbital angular momentum loss or ejection of a third component followed by tidal circularization. While further observations are needed to fully constrain the orbital and physical parameters of LP 413-53, this ultra-short-period UCD binary system serves as a new testbed for formation and dynamical evolution models of very-low-mass multiples.

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arXiv2022

Astrometric Accelerations as Dynamical Beacons: Discovery and Characterization of HIP 21152 B, the First T-Dwarf Companion in the Hyades

Benchmark brown dwarf companions with well-determined ages and model-independent masses are powerful tools to test substellar evolutionary models and probe the formation of giant planets and brown dwarfs. Here, we report the independent discovery of HIP~21152~B, the first imaged brown dwarf companion in the Hyades, and conduct a comprehensive orbital and atmospheric characterization of the system. HIP~21152 was targeted in an ongoing high-contrast imaging campaign of stars exhibiting proper motion changes between Hipparcos and Gaia, and was also recently identified by Bonavita et al. (2022) and Kuzuhara et al. (2022). Our Keck/NIRC2 and SCExAO/CHARIS imaging of HIP~21152 revealed a comoving companion at a separation of $0.37^{\prime\prime}$ (16 au). We perform a joint orbit fit of all available relative astrometry and radial velocities together with the Hipparcos-Gaia proper motions, yielding a dynamical mass of $24^{+6}_{-4}\,\mathrm{M_{Jup}}$, which is $1{-}2σ$ lower than evolutionary model predictions. Hybrid grids that include the evolution of cloud properties best reproduce the dynamical mass. We also identify a comoving wide-separation ($1837^{\prime\prime}$ or $7.9 \times 10^4 \, \mathrm{au}$) early-L dwarf with an inferred mass near the hydrogen-burning limit. Finally, we analyze the spectra and photometry of HIP~21152~B using the Saumon & Marley (2008) atmospheric models and a suite of retrievals. The best-fit grid-based models have $f_{\mathrm{sed}}=2$, indicating the presence of clouds, $T_{\mathrm{eff}}=1400 \, \mathrm{K}$, and $\log{g}=4.5 \, \mathrm{dex}$. These results are consistent with the object's spectral type of $\mathrm{T0\pm1}$. As the first benchmark brown dwarf companion in the Hyades, HIP~21152~B joins the small but growing number of substellar companions with well-determined ages and dynamical masses.

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arXiv2022

Beyond the Local Volume. II. Population Scaleheights and Ages of Ultracool Dwarfs in Deep HST/WFC3 Parallel Fields

Ultracool dwarfs represent a significant proportion of stars in the Milky Way,and deep samples of these sources have the potential to constrain the formation history and evolution of low-mass objects in the Galaxy. Until recently, spectral samples have been limited to the local volume (d<100 pc). Here, we analyze a sample of 164 spectroscopically-characterized ultracool dwarfs identified by Aganze et al. (2022) in the Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 Infrared Spectroscopic Parallel (WISP) Survey and 3D-HST. We model the observed luminosity function using population simulations to place constraints on scaleheights, vertical velocity dispersions and population ages as a function of spectral type. Our star counts are consistent with a power-law mass function and constant star formation history for ultracool dwarfs, with vertical scaleheights 249$_{-61}^{+48}$ pc for late M dwarfs, 153$_{-30}^{+56}$ pc for L dwarfs, and 175$_{-56}^{+149}$ pc for T dwarfs. Using spatial and velocity dispersion relations, these scaleheights correspond to disk population ages of 3.6$_{-1.0}^{+0.8}$ for late M dwarfs, 2.1$_{-0.5}^{+0.9}$ Gyr for L dwarfs, and 2.4$_{-0.8}^{+2.4}$ Gyr for T dwarfs, which are consistent with prior simulations that predict that L-type dwarfs are on average a younger and less dispersed population. There is an additional 1-2 Gyr systematic uncertainty on these ages due to variances in age-velocity relations. We use our population simulations to predict the UCD yield in the JWST PASSAGES survey, a similar and deeper survey to WISPS and 3D-HST, and find that it will produce a comparably-sized UCD sample, albeit dominated by thick disk and halo sources.

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arXiv2022

Moderate-Resolution $K$-Band Spectroscopy of the Substellar Companion VHS 1256 b

We present moderate-resolution ($R\sim4000$) $K$ band spectra of the planetary-mass companion VHS 1256 b. The data were taken with the OSIRIS integral field spectrograph at the W.M. Keck Observatory. The spectra reveal resolved molecular lines from H$_{2}$O and CO. The spectra are compared to custom $PHOENIX$ atmosphere model grids appropriate for young, substellar objects. We fit the data using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo forward modeling method. Using a combination of our moderate-resolution spectrum and low-resolution, broadband data from the literature, we derive an effective temperature of 1240 K, with a range of 1200--1300 K, a surface gravity of $\log{g}=$ 3.25, with a range of 3.25--3.75 and a cloud parameter of $\log P_{cloud}=$ 6, with a range of 6.0--6.6. These values are consistent with previous studies, regardless of the new, larger system distance from GAIA EDR3 (22.2$^{+1.1}_{-1.2}$ pc). We derive a C/O ratio of 0.590$_{-0.354}^{+0.280}$ for VHS 1256b. Both our OSIRIS data and spectra from the literature are best modeled when using a larger 3 $μ$m grain size for the clouds than used for hotter objects, consistent with other sources in the L/T transition region. VHS 1256 b offers an opportunity to look for systematics in the modeling process that may lead to the incorrect derivation of properties like C/O ratio in the high contrast regime.

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arXiv2022

TESS discovery of a sub-Neptune orbiting a mid-M dwarf TOI-2136

We present the discovery of TOI-2136b, a sub-Neptune planet transiting every 7.85 days a nearby M4.5V-type star, identified through photometric measurements from the TESS mission. The host star is located $33$ pc away with a radius of $R_{\ast} = 0.34\pm0.02\ R_{\odot}$, a mass of $0.34\pm0.02\ M_{\odot}$ and an effective temperature of $\rm 3342\pm100\ K$. We estimate its stellar rotation period to be $75\pm5$ days based on archival long-term photometry. We confirm and characterize the planet based on a series of ground-based multi-wavelength photometry, high-angular-resolution imaging observations, and precise radial velocities from CFHT/SPIRou. Our joint analysis reveals that the planet has a radius of $2.19\pm0.17\ R_{\oplus}$, and a mass measurement of $6.4\pm2.4\ M_{\oplus}$. The mass and radius of TOI2136b is consistent with a broad range of compositions, from water-ice to gas-dominated worlds. TOI-2136b falls close to the radius valley for low-mass stars predicted by the thermally driven atmospheric mass loss models, making it an interesting target for future studies of its interior structure and atmospheric properties.

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arXiv2021

A Wide Planetary Mass Companion Discovered Through the Citizen Science Project Backyard Worlds: Planet 9

Through the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen science project we discovered a late-type L dwarf co-moving with the young K0 star BD+60 1417 at a projected separation of 37" or 1662 AU. The secondary - CWISER J124332.12+600126.2 (W1243) - is detected in both the CatWISE2020 and 2MASS reject tables. The photometric distance and CatWISE proper motion both match that of the primary within ~1sigma and our estimates for chance alignment yield a zero probability. Follow-up near infrared spectroscopy reveals W1243 to be a very red 2MASS color(J-Ks=2.72), low-surface gravity source that we classify as L6 - L8gamma. Its spectral morphology strongly resembles that of confirmed late-type L dwarfs in 10 - 150 Myr moving groups as well as that of planetary mass companions. The position on near- and mid-infrared color-magnitude diagrams indicates the source is redder and fainter than the field sequence, a telltale sign of an object with thick clouds and a complex atmosphere. For the primary we obtained new optical spectroscopy and analyzed all available literature information for youth indicators. We conclude that the Li I abundance, its loci on color-magnitude and color-color diagrams, and the rotation rate revealed in multiple TESS sectors are all consistent with an age of 50 - 150 Myr. Using our re-evaluated age of the primary, the Gaia parallax along with the photometry and spectrum for W1243 we find a Teff=1303+/-31 K, logg=4.3+/-0.17 cm s-2, and a mass of 15+/-5 MJup. We find a physical separation of ~1662 AU and a mass ratio of ~0.01 for this system. Placing it in context with the diverse collection of binary stars, brown dwarf and planetary companions, the BD+60 1417 system falls in a sparsely sampled area where the formation pathway is difficult to assess.

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arXiv2021

The 3-D Kinematics of the Orion Nebula Cluster: NIRSPEC-AO Radial Velocities of the Core Population

The kinematics and dynamics of stellar and substellar populations within young, still-forming clusters provides valuable information for constraining theories of formation mechanisms. Using Keck II NIRSPEC+AO data, we have measured radial velocities for 56 low-mass sources within 4' of the core of the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). We also re-measure radial velocities for 172 sources observed with SDSS/APOGEE. These data are combined with proper motions measured using $HST$ ACS/WFPC2/WFC3IR and Keck II NIRC2, creating a sample of 135 sources with all three velocity components. The velocities measured are consistent with a normal distribution in all three components. We measure intrinsic velocity dispersions of ($σ_{v_α}$, $σ_{v_δ}$, $σ_{v_r}$) = ($1.64\pm0.12$, $2.03\pm0.13$, $2.56^{+0.16}_{-0.17}$) km s$^{-1}$. Our computed intrinsic velocity dispersion profiles are consistent with the dynamical equilibrium models from Da Rio et al. (2014) in the tangential direction, but not in the line of sight direction, possibly indicating that the core of the ONC is not yet virialized, and may require a non-spherical potential to explain the observed velocity dispersion profiles. We also observe a slight elongation along the north-south direction following the filament, which has been well studied in previous literature, and an elongation in the line of sight to tangential velocity direction. These 3-D kinematics will help in the development of realistic models of the formation and early evolution of massive clusters.

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arXiv2021

The Brown Dwarf Kinematics Project (BDKP). V. Radial and Rotational Velocities of T Dwarfs from Keck/NIRSPEC High-Resolution Spectroscopy

We report multi-epoch radial velocities, rotational velocities, and atmospheric parameters for 37 T-type brown dwarfs observed with Keck/NIRSPEC. Using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo forward-modeling method, we achieve median precisions of 0.5 km s$^{-1}$ and 0.9 km s$^{-1}$ for radial and rotational velocities, respectively. All of the T dwarfs in our sample are thin disk brown dwarfs. We confirm previously reported moving group associations for four T dwarfs. However, the lack of spectral indicators of youth in two of these sources suggests that these are chance alignments. We confirm two previously un-resolved binary candidates, the T0+T4.5 2MASS J11061197+2754225 and the L7+T3.5 2MASS J21265916+7617440, with orbital periods of 4 yr and 12 yr, respectively. We find a kinematic age of 3.5$\pm$0.3 Gyr for local T dwarfs, consistent with nearby late-M dwarfs (4.1$\pm$0.3 Gyr). Removal of thick disk L dwarfs in the local ultracool dwarf sample gives a similar age for L dwarfs (4.2$\pm$0.3 Gyr), largely resolving the local L dwarf age anomaly. The kinematic ages of local late-M, L, and T dwarfs can be accurately reproduced with population simulations incorporating standard assumptions of the mass function, star formation rate, and brown dwarf evolutionary models. A kinematic dispersion break is found at the L4$-$L6 subtypes, likely reflecting the terminus of the stellar Main Sequence. We provide a compilation of precise radial velocities for 172 late-M, L, and T dwarfs within $\sim$20 pc of the Sun.

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arXiv2020

Moderate-Resolution $K$-Band Spectroscopy of Substellar Companion $κ$ Andromedae b

We present moderate-resolution ($R\sim4000$) $K$ band spectra of the "super-Jupiter," $κ$ Andromedae b. The data were taken with the OSIRIS integral field spectrograph at Keck Observatory. The spectra reveal resolved molecular lines from H$_{2}$O and CO. The spectra are compared to a custom $PHOENIX$ atmosphere model grid appropriate for young planetary-mass objects. We fit the data using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo forward modeling method. Using a combination of our moderate-resolution spectrum and low-resolution, broadband data from the literature, we derive an effective temperature of $T_\mathrm{eff}$ = 1950 - 2150 K, a surface gravity of $\log g=3.5 - 4.5$, and a metallicity of [M/H] = $-0.2 - 0.0$. These values are consistent with previous estimates from atmospheric modeling and the currently favored young age of the system ($<$50 Myr). We derive a C/O ratio of 0.70$_{-0.24}^{+0.09}$ for the source, broadly consistent with the solar C/O ratio. This, coupled with the slightly subsolar metallicity, implies a composition consistent with that of the host star, and is suggestive of formation by a rapid process. The subsolar metallicity of $κ$ Andromedae b is also consistent with predictions of formation via gravitational instability. Further constraints on formation of the companion will require measurement of the C/O ratio of $κ$ Andromedae A. We also measure the radial velocity of $κ$ Andromedae b for the first time, with a value of $-1.4\pm0.9\,\mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}$ relative to the host star. We find that the derived radial velocity is consistent with the estimated high eccentricity of $κ$ Andromedae b.

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arXiv2019

Magnetic Inflation and Stellar Mass. V. Intensification and saturation of M dwarf absorption lines with Rossby number

In young sun-like stars and field M dwarf stars, chromospheric and coronal magnetic activity indicators such as H$α$, X-ray and radio emission are known to saturate with low Rossby number ($Ro \lesssim 0.1$), defined as the ratio of rotation period to convective turnover time. The mechanism for the saturation is unclear. In this paper, we use photospheric Ti I and Ca I absorption lines in $Y$ band to investigate magnetic field strength in M dwarfs for Rossby numbers between 0.01 and 1.0. The equivalent widths of the lines are magnetically enhanced by photospheric spots, a global field or a combination of the two. The equivalent widths behave qualitatively similar to the chromospheric and coronal indicators: we see increasing equivalent widths (increasing absorption) with decreasing $Ro$ and saturation of the equivalent widths for $Ro \lesssim 0.1$. The majority of M dwarfs in this study are fully convective. The results add to mounting evidence that the magnetic saturation mechanism occurs at or beneath the stellar photosphere.

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arXiv2019

Stellar Proper Motions in the Orion Nebula Cluster

The Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) is the nearest site of ongoing massive star formation, which allows us to study the kinematics and dynamics of the region in detail and constrain star formation theories. Using HST ACS/WFPC2/WFC3IR and Keck II NIRC2 data, we have measured the proper motions of 701 stars within an $\sim6'\times6'$ field of view around the center of the ONC. We have found more than 10 escaping star candidates, concentrated predominantly at the core of the cluster. The proper motions of the bound stars are consistent with a normal distribution, albeit elongated North-South along the Orion filament, with proper motion dispersions of $(σ_{μ,α^*}, σ_{μ,δ}) = (0.83\pm0.02,\,1.12\pm0.03)$ mas yr$^{-1}$ or intrinsic velocity dispersions of $(σ_{v,α^*}, σ_{v,δ}) = (1.57\pm0.04,\,2.12\pm0.06)$ km s$^{-1}$ assuming a distance of 400 pc to the ONC. The cluster shows no evidence for tangential-to-radial anisotropy. Our velocity dispersion profile agrees with the prediction from the observed stellar + gas density profile from Da Rio et al. (2014), indicating that the ONC is in virial equilibrium. This finding suggests that the cluster was formed with a low star formation efficiency per dynamical timescale based on comparisons with current star formation theories. Our survey also recovered high-velocity IR sources BN, x, and n in the BN/KL region. The estimated location of the first two sources $\sim500$ years ago agrees with that of the radio source I, consistent with their proposed common origin from a multi-stellar disintegration. However, source n appears to have a small proper motion and is unlikely to have been involved in the event.

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arXiv2018

Parallaxes of Cool Objects with WISE: Filling in for Gaia

This paper uses the multi-epoch astrometry from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) to demonstrate a method to measure proper motions and trigonometric parallaxes with precisions of $\sim$4 mas yr$^{-1}$ and $\sim$7 mas, respectively, for low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. This method relies on WISE single exposures (Level 1b frames) and a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. The limitations of Gaia in observing very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs are discussed, and it is shown that WISE will be able to measure astrometry past the 95% completeness limit and magnitude limit of Gaia (L, T, and Y dwarfs fainter than $G\approx19$ and $G=21$, respectively). This method is applied to WISE data of 20 nearby ($\lesssim17$ pc) dwarfs with spectral types between M6-Y2 and previously measured trigonometric parallaxes. Also provided are WISE astrometric measurements for 23 additional low-mass dwarfs with spectral types between M6-T7 and estimated photometric distances $<17$ pc. Only nine of these objects contain parallaxes within Gaia Data Release 2.

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arXiv2018

2MASS J13243553+6358281 is an Early T-Type Planetary-Mass Object in the AB Doradus Moving Group

We present new radial velocity and trigonometric parallax measurements indicating that the unusually red and photometrically variable T2 dwarf 2MASS J13243553+6358281 is a member of the young (~150 Myr) AB Doradus moving group based on its space velocity. We estimate its model-dependent mass in the range 11-12 $M_{\rm Jup}$ at the age of the AB Doradus moving group, and its trigonometric parallax distance of 12.7 $\pm$ 1.5 pc makes it one of the nearest known isolated planetary-mass objects. The unusually red continuum of 2MASS J13243553+6358281 in the near-infrared was previously suspected to be caused by an unresolved L+T brown dwarf binary, although it was never observed with high-spatial resolution imaging. This new evidence of youth suggests that a low surface gravity may be sufficient to explain this peculiar feature. Using the new parallax we find that its absolute $J$-band magnitude is ~0.4 mag fainter than equivalent-type field brown dwarfs, suggesting that the binary hypothesis is unlikely. The fundamental properties of 2MASS J13243553+6358281 follow the spectral type sequence of other known high-likelihood members of the AB Doradus moving group. The effective temperature of 2MASS J13243553+6358281 provides the first precise constraint on the L/T transition at a known young age, and indicates that it happens at a temperature of ~1150 K at ~150 Myr, compared to ~1250 K for field brown dwarfs.

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arXiv2017

2MASS J11151597+1937266: A Young, Dusty, Isolated, Planetary-Mass Object with a Potential Wide Stellar Companion

We present 2MASS J11151597+1937266, a recently identified low-surface gravity L dwarf, classified as an L2$γ$ based on Sloan Digital Sky Survey optical spectroscopy. We confirm this spectral type with near-infrared spectroscopy, which provides further evidence that 2MASS J11151597+1937266 is a low-surface gravity L dwarf. This object also shows significant excess mid-infrared flux, indicative of circumstellar material; and its strong H$α$ emission (EW$_{\mathrm{H}α}=560\pm82$ Å) is an indicator of enhanced magnetic activity or weak accretion. Comparison of its spectral energy distribution to model photospheres yields an effective temperature of $1724^{+184}_{-38}$ K. We also provide a revised distance estimate of $37\pm6$ pc using a spectral type-luminosity relationship for low-surface gravity objects. The 3-dimensional galactic velocities and positions of 2MASS J11151597+1937266 do not match any known young association or moving group. Assuming a probable age in the range of 5-45 Myr, the model-dependent estimated mass of this object is between 7-21 $M_\mathrm{Jup}$, making it a potentially isolated planetary-mass object. We also identify a candidate co-moving, young stellar companion, 2MASS J11131089+2110086.

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arXiv2017

Identification of WISE J000100.45+065259.6 as an M8.5+T5 Spectral Binary Candidate

[not part of RNAAS note] We report the discovery of WISE J000100.45+065259.6 as a very low mass star/brown dwarf spectral binary candidate, on the basis of low resolution near-infrared spectroscopy obtained with IRTF/SpeX. Decomposition of the spectrum indicates component types of M8.5+T5 with a predicted $Δ{J}$ = 3.5. As the majority of confirmed spectral binary candidates to date are very closely-separated systems ($ρ$ $\lesssim$ 3 AU; $P$ $\lesssim$ 15~yr), this source may provide mass measurements across the hydrogen burning limit within the decade.

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arXiv2016

The Late-Type Extension to MoVeRS (LaTE-MoVeRS): Proper motion verified low-mass stars and brown dwarfs from SDSS, 2MASS, and WISE

We present the Late-Type Extension to the Motion Verified Red Stars (LaTE-MoVeRS) catalog, containing 46,463 photometric late-type ($>$ M5) dwarfs within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) footprint. Proper motions were computed for objects combining astrometry from the SDSS Data Release 12 (DR12), the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) Point Source Catalog (PSC), and the \emph{Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer} (\emph{WISE}) AllWISE datasets. LaTE-MoVeRS objects were required to have significant proper motion ($μ_\mathrm{tot} \geqslant 2σ_{μ_\mathrm{tot}}$). Using the LaTE-MoVeRS sample and \emph{Gaia} Data Release 1, we estimate \emph{Gaia} will be $\sim$64\% complete for very-low-mass objects ($>$ M5) in comparison to the combined SDSS+2MASS+\emph{WISE} dataset ($i < 21.3$). We computed photometric distances and estimated stellar effective temperatures for the LaTE-MoVeRS catalog. The majority of the dwarfs in the sample have distances $< 150$ pc and $T_\mathrm{eff} < 3000$ K. Thirteen objects were identified within LaTE-MoVeRS with estimated photometric distances within 25 pc that have not been previously identified as nearby objects. We also identified one new object with a large amount of excess mid-infrared flux that has not been previously identified (2MASS J11151597$+$1937266). This object appears to be an L2$γ$ at $\sim$50 pc showing spectroscopic signs of a flaring event (e.g., strong Hydrogen Balmer emission lines). This object does not exhibit kinematics similar to any known kinematic association. The LaTE-MoVeRS catalog is available through SDSS CasJobs and VizieR.

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arXiv2015

Motion Verified Red Stars (MoVeRS): A Catalog of Proper Motion Selected Low-mass Stars from WISE, SDSS, and 2MASS

We present a photometric catalog of 8,735,004 proper motion selected low-mass stars (KML-spectral types) within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) footprint, from the combined SDSS Data Release 10 (DR10), Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) Point Source Catalog (PSC), and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) AllWISE catalog. Stars were selected using $r-i$, $i-z$, $r-z$, $z-J$, and $z-W1$ colors, and SDSS, WISE, and 2MASS astrometry was combined to compute proper motions. The resulting 3,518,150 stars were augmented with proper motions for 5,216,854 earlier type stars from the combined SDSS and United States Naval Observatory B1.0 catalog (USNO-B). We used SDSS+USNO-B proper motions to determine the best criteria for selecting a clean sample of stars. Only stars whose proper motions were greater than their $2$$σ$ uncertainty were included. Our Motion Verified Red Stars (MoVeRS) catalog is available through SDSS CasJobs and VizieR.

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arXiv2015

Runaway M Dwarf Candidates from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We present a sample of 20 runaway M dwarf candidates (RdMs) within 1 kpc of the Sun whose Galactocentric velocities exceed 400 km s$^{-1}$. The candidates were selected from the SDSS DR7 M Dwarf Catalog of West et al. (2011). Our RdMs have SDSS+USNO-B proper motions that are consistent with those recorded in the PPMXL, LSPM, and combined WISE+SDSS+2MASS catalogs. Sixteen RdMs are classified as dwarfs, while the remaining four RdMs are subdwarfs. We model the Galactic potential using a bulge-disk-halo profile (Kenyon et al. 2008; Brown et al. 2014). Our fastest RdM, with Galactocentric velocity 658.5 $\pm$ 236.9 km s$^{-1}$, is a possible hypervelocity candidate, as it is unbound in 77% of our simulations. About half of our RdMs have kinematics that are consistent with ejection from the Galactic center. Seven of our RdMs have kinematics consistent with an ejection scenario from M31 or M32 to within 2σ, although our distance-limited survey makes such a realization unlikely. No more than four of our RdMs may have originated from the Leo stream. We propose that to within measurement errors, most of our bound RdMs are likely disk runaways or halo objects, and may have been accelerated through a series of multi-body interactions within the Galactic disk or possibly supernovae explosions.

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