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D. Homeier

Publications and source records attributed to D. Homeier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Multi-modal atmospheric characterization of $\beta$ Pictoris b: Adding high-resolution continuum spectra from GRAVITY

We present the first VLTI/GRAVITY observations at R$_\lambda \sim 4000$ of $\beta$ Pic b. These four high S/N ($\sim$20) K-band spectra conserve both the pseudo-continuum and molecular absorption patterns. We analyze them with four self-consistent forward model grids (Exo-REM, ATMO, BT-Settl, Sonora) exploring $T_{\mathrm{eff}}$, log(g), metallicity, C/O, and $^{12}$CO/$^{13}$CO ratio. We also upgrade our forward modeling code ForMoSA to account for the data multi-modality and combine the GRAVITY epochs with published 1-5 $\mu$m photometry, low- to medium-resolution spectra (0.9-7 $\mu$m), and high-resolution echelle spectra (2.1-5.2 $\mu$m). Sonora and Exo-REM are statistically preferred. Exo-REM yields $T_{\mathrm{eff}}$ $=1607.45^{+4.85}_{-6.20}$ K and log(g) $=4.46^{+0.02}_{-0.04}$ dex from GRAVITY alone, and $T_{\mathrm{eff}}$ $=1502.74^{+2.32}_{-2.14}$ K and log(g) $=4.00\pm0.01$ dex when including all datasets. Archival data significantly affect the retrieved parameters. C/O remains solar ($0.552^{+0.003}_{-0.002}$) while [M/H] reaches super-solar values (0.50$\pm$0.01). We report the first tentative constraint on log($^{12}$CO/$^{13}$CO) $\sim$1.12, though this remains inconclusive due to telluric residuals. Additionally, we estimate the luminosity to be log(L/L$_\odot$) $=-4.01^{+0.04}_{-0.05}$, implying a heavy-element content of up to $\sim$5% (20-80 M$_\oplus$) given the system age and dynamical mass measurements. Access to both continuum and molecular lines at K-band significantly impacts the metallicity, possibly owing to collision-induced absorption shaping the continuum. Echelle spectra do not dominate the final fit with respect to lower resolution data. Future multi-modal frameworks should include weighting schemes reflecting bandwidth and central wavelength coverage.

astro-ph.EP

Near-infrared spectroscopic characterisation of Gaia ultra-cool dwarf candidates; Spectral types and peculiarities

Context: The local census of very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs is crucial to improving our understanding of the stellar-substellar transition and their formation history. These objects, known as ultra-cool dwarfs (UCDs), are essential targets for searches of potentially habitable planets. However, their detection poses a challenge because of their low luminosity. The Gaia survey has identified numerous new UCD candidates thanks to its large survey and precise astrometry. Aims: We aim to characterise 60 UCD candidates detected by Gaia in the solar neighbourhood with a spectroscopic follow-up to confirm that they are UCDs, as well as to identify peculiarities. Methods: We acquired the near-infrared (NIR) spectra of 60 objects using the SOFI spectrograph between 0.93 and 2.5 microns (R$\sim600$). We identified their spectral types using a template-matching method. Their binarity is studied using astrometry and spectral features. Results: We confirm that 60 objects in the sample have ultra-cool dwarf spectral types close to those expected from astrometry. Their NIR spectra reveal that seven objects could host an unresolved coolest companion and seven UCDs share the same proper motions as other stars. The characterisation of these UCDs is part of a coordinated effort to improve our understanding of the Solar neighbourhood.

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Peering into the Young Planetary System AB Pic. Atmosphere, Orbit, Obliquity & Second Planetary Candidate

We aim to revisit the system AB Pic which has a known companion at the exoplanet/ brown-dwarf boundary. We based this study on a rich set of observations to investigate the companion's orbit and atmosphere. We composed a spectrum of AB Pic b merging archival VLT/SINFONI K-band data, with published spectra at J and H-band (SINFONI) and Lp-band (Magellan-AO), and photometric measurements (HST and Spitzer). We modeled the spectrum with ForMoSA, based on two atmospheric models: ExoREM and BT-SETTL13. We determined the orbital properties of b fitting the astrometric measurements from NaCo (2003 and 2004) and SPHERE (2015). The orbital solutions favor a semi-major axis of $\sim$190au viewed edge-on. With Exo-REM, we derive a T$_{eff}$ of 1700$\pm$50K and surface gravity of 4.5$\pm$0.3dex, consistent with previous works, and we report for the first time a C/O ratio of 0.58$\pm$0.08 ($\sim$solar). The posteriors are sensitive to the wavelength interval and the family of models used. Given the 2.1hr rotation period and our vsin(i) of $\sim$73km/s, we estimate for the first time the true obliquity to be $\sim$45 or $\sim$135deg, indicating a significant misalignment between the planet's spin and orbit orientations. Finally, a proper motion anomaly between the Hipparcos and Gaia eDR3 compared to our SPHERE detection limits and adapted radial velocity limits indicate the existence of a $\sim$6M$_{Jup}$ inner planet orbiting from 2 to 10au (40-200mas). The possible existence of an inner companion and the likely miss-alignment of the spin axis orientation strongly favor a formation path by gravitational instability or core accretion within a disk closer inside followed by dynamical interactions. Confirmation and characterization of planet c and access to a broader wavelength coverage for planet b will be essential to probe the uncertainties associated with the parameters.

astro-ph.EP

A dayside thermal inversion in the atmosphere of WASP-19b

Observations of ultra-hot Jupiters indicate the existence of thermal inversion in their atmospheres with day-side temperatures greater than 2200 K. Various physical mechanisms such as non-local thermal equilibrium, cloud formation, disequilibrium chemistry, ionisation, hydrodynamic waves and associated energy, have been omitted in previous spectral retrievals while they play an important role on the thermal structure of their upper atmospheres.We aim at exploring the atmospheric properties of WASP-19b to understand its largely featureless thermal spectra using a state-of-the-art atmosphere code that includes a detailed treatment of the most important physical and chemical processes at play in such atmospheres.We used the one-dimensional line-by-line radiative transfer code PHOENIX in its spherical symmetry configuration including the BT-Settl cloud model and C/O disequilibrium chemistry to analyse the observed thermal spectrum of WASP-19b. Results. We find evidence for a thermal inversion in the day-side atmosphere of the highly irradiated ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-19b with Teq ~ 2700 K. At these high temperatures we find that H2O dissociates thermally at pressure below 10^-2 bar. The inverted temperature-pressure profiles of WASP-19b show the evidence of CO emission features at 4.5 micron in its secondary eclipse spectra.We find that the atmosphere ofWASP-19b is thermally inverted.We infer that the thermal inversion is due to the strong impinging radiation. We show that H2O is partially dissociated in the upper atmosphere above about tau = 10^-2, but is still a significant contributor to the infrared-opacity, dominated by CO. The high-temperature and low-density conditions cause H2O to have a flatter opacity profile than in non-irradiated brown dwarfs.Altogether these factors makes H2O more difficult to identify in WASP-19b.

astro-ph.EP

Detection and characterisation of two VLM binaries: LP 1033-31 and LP 877-72

Using the high-resolution near-infrared adaptive optics imaging from the NaCo instrument at the Very Large Telescope, we report the discovery of a new binary companion to the M-dwarf LP 1033-31 and also confirm the binarity of LP 877-72. We have characterised both the stellar systems and estimated the properties of their individual components. We have found that LP 1033-31 AB with the spectral type of M4.5+M4.5 has a projected separation of 6.7$\pm$1.3 AU. Whereas with the spectral type of M1+M4, the projected separation of LP 877-72 AB is estimated to be 45.8$\pm$0.3 AU. The binary companions of LP 1033-31 AB are found to have similar masses, radii, effective temperatures, and log $g$ with the estimated values of 0.20$\pm$0.04 $\rm{M}_{\odot}$, 0.22$\pm$0.03 $\rm{R}_{\odot}$, 3200 K, 5.06$\pm$0.04. However, the primary of LP 877-72 AB is found to be twice as massive as the secondary with the derived mass of 0.520$\pm$0.006 $\rm{M}_{\odot}$. The radius and log $g$ for the primary of LP 877-72 AB are found to be 1.8 and 0.95 times that of the secondary component with the estimated values of 0.492$\pm$0.011 $\rm{R}_{\odot}$ and 4.768$\pm$0.005, respectively. With an effective temperature of 3750$\pm$15 K, the primary of LP 877-72 AB is also estimated to be $\sim$400 K hotter than the secondary component. We have also estimated the orbital period of LP 1033-31 and LP 877-72 to be $\sim$28 and $\sim$349 yr, respectively. The binding energies for both systems are found to be $\gt$10$^{43}$ erg, which signifies both systems are stable.

astro-ph.SR

First Results from MFOSC-P : Low Resolution Optical Spectroscopy of a Sample of M dwarfs within 100 parsecs

Mt. Abu Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera (MFOSC-P) is an in-house developed instrument for Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) 1.2m telescope at Mt. Abu India, commissioned in February 2019. Here we present the first science results derived from the low resolution spectroscopy program of a sample of M Dwarfs carried out during the commissioning run of MFOSC-P between February-June 2019. M dwarfs carry great significance for exoplanets searches in habitable zone and are among the promising candidates for the observatory's several ongoing observational campaigns. Determination of their accurate atmospheric properties and fundamental parameters is essential to constrain both their atmospheric and evolutionary models. In this study, we provide a low resolution (R$\sim$500) spectroscopic catalogue of 80 bright M dwarfs (J$<$10) and classify them using their optical spectra. We have also performed the spectral synthesis and $\chi^2$ minimisation techniques to determine their fundamental parameters viz. effective temperature and surface gravity by comparing the observed spectra with the most recent BT-Settl synthetic spectra. Spectral type of M dwarfs in our sample ranges from M0 to M5. The derived effective temperature and surface gravity are ranging from 4000 K to 3000 K and 4.5 to 5.5 dex, respectively. In most of the cases, the derived spectral types are in good agreement with previously assigned photometric classification.

astro-ph.SR

Metallicity, temperature, and gravity scales of M subdwarfs

The aim of the project is to define a metallicity/gravity/temperature scale vs spectral types for metal-poor M dwarfs. We obtained intermediate-resolution ultraviolet (R~3300), optical (R~5400), and near-infrared (R~3900) spectra of 43 M subdwarfs (sdM), extreme subdwarfs (esdM), and ultra-subdwarfs (usdM) with the X-shooter spectrograph on the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope. We compared our atlas of spectra to the latest BT-Settl synthetic spectral energy distribution over a wide range of metallicities, gravities, and effective temperatures to infer the physical properties for the whole M dwarf sequence (M0--M9.5) at sub-solar metallicities and constrain the latest state-of-the-art atmospheric models. The BT-Settl models reproduce well the observed spectra across the 450-2500 nm wavelength range except for a few regions. We find that the best fits are obtained for gravities of log(g) = 5.0-5.5 dex for the three metal classes. We infer metallicities of [Fe/H] = -0.5, -1.5, and -2.0+/-0.5 dex and effective temperatures of 3700-2600 K, 3800-2900 K, and 3700-2900 K for subdwarfs, extreme subdwarfs, and ultra-subdwarfs, respectively. Metal-poor M dwarfs tend to be warmer by about 200+/-100 K and exhibit higher gravity than their solar-metallicity counterparts. We derive abundances of several elements (Fe, Na, K, Ca, Ti) for our sample but cannot describe their atmospheres with a single metallicity parameter. Our metallicity scale expands the current scales available for midly metal-poor planet-host low-mass stars. Our compendium of moderate-resolution spectra covering the 0.45--2.5 micron range represents an important legacy value for large-scale surveys and space missions to come.

astro-ph.SR

The ESO supernovae type Ia progenitor survey (SPY)

Close double degenerate binaries are one of the favoured progenitor channels for type Ia supernovae, but it is unclear how many suitable systems there are in the Galaxy. We report results of a large radial velocity survey for double degenerate (DD) binaries using the UVES spectrograph at the ESO VLT (ESO SN Ia Progenitor surveY - SPY). Exposures taken at different epochs are checked for radial velocity shifts indicating close binary systems. We observed 689 targets classified as DA (displaying hydrogen-rich atmospheres), of which 46 turned out to possess a cool companion. We measured radial velocities (RV) of the remaining 643 DA white dwarfs. We managed to secure observations at two or more epochs for 625 targets, supplemented by eleven objects meeting our selection criteria from literature. The data reduction and analysis methods applied to the survey data are described in detail. The sample contains 39 double degenerate binaries, only four of which were previously known. 20 are double-lined systems, in which features from both components are visible, the other 19 are single-lined binaries. We provide absolute RVs transformed to the heliocentric system suitable for kinematic studies. Our sample is large enough to sub-divide by mass: 16 out of 44 low mass targets (<= 0.45 Msun) are detected as DDs, while just 23 of the remaining 567 with multiple spectra and mass >0.45 Msun are double. Although the detected fraction amongst the low mass objects (36.4 +/- 7.3%) is significantly higher than for the higher-mass, carbon/oxygen-core dominated part of the sample (3.9 +/- 0.8%), it is lower than the detection efficiency based upon companion star masses >= 0.05 Msun. This suggests either companion stars of mass < 0.05 Msun, or that some of the low mass white dwarfs are single.

astro-ph.SR

Primeval very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs - IV. New L subdwarfs, Gaia astrometry, population properties, and a blue brown dwarf binary

We present 27 new L subdwarfs and classify five of them as esdL and 22 as sdL. Our L subdwarf candidates were selected with the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey and Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Spectroscopic follow-up was carried out primarily with the OSIRIS spectrograph on the Gran Telescopio Canarias. Some of these new objects were followed up with the X-shooter instrument on the Very Large Telescope. We studied the photometric properties of the population of known L subdwarfs using colour-spectral type diagrams and colour-colour diagrams, by comparison with L dwarfs and main-sequence stars, and identified new colour spaces for L subdwarf selection/study in current and future surveys. We further discussed the brown dwarf transition-zone and the observational stellar/substellar boundary. We found that about one-third of 66 known L subdwarfs are substellar objects, with two-thirds being very low-mass stars. We also present the Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams, spectral type-absolute magnitude corrections, and tangential velocities of 20 known L subdwarfs observed by the Gaia astrometry satellite. One of our L subdwarf candidates, ULAS J233227.03+123452.0, is a mildly metal-poor spectroscopic binary brown dwarf: a ~L6p dwarf and a ~T4p dwarf. This binary is likely a thick disc member according to its kinematics.

astro-ph.SR

Primeval very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs - III. The halo transitional brown dwarfs

We report the discovery of an esdL3 subdwarf, ULAS J020858.62+020657.0, and a usdL4.5 subdwarf, ULAS J230711.01+014447.1. They were identified as L subdwarfs by optical spectra obtained with the Gran Telescopio Canarias, and followed up by optical-to-near-infrared spectroscopy with the Very Large Telescope. We also obtained an optical-to-near-infrared spectrum of a previously known L subdwarf, ULAS J135058.85+081506.8, and reclassified it as a usdL3 subdwarf. These three objects all have typical halo kinematics. They have $T_{\rm eff}$ around 2050$-$2250 K, $-$1.8 $\leq$ [Fe/H] $\leq -$1.5, and mass around 0.0822$-$0.0833 M$_{\odot}$, according to model spectral fitting and evolutionary models. These sources are likely halo transitional brown dwarfs with unsteady hydrogen fusion, as their masses are just below the hydrogen-burning minimum mass, which is $\sim$ 0.0845 M$_{\odot}$ at [Fe/H] = $-$1.6 and $\sim$ 0.0855 M$_{\odot}$ at [Fe/H] = $-$1.8. Including these, there are now nine objects in the `halo brown dwarf transition zone', which is a `substellar subdwarf gap' that spans a wide temperature range within a narrow mass range of the substellar population.

astro-ph.SR

Dynamical masses of M-dwarf binaries in young moving groups: I - The case of TWA 22 and GJ 2060

Evolutionary models are widely used to infer the mass of stars, brown dwarfs, and giant planets. Their predictions are thought to be less reliable at young ages ($<$ 200 Myr) and in the low-mass regime ($\mathrm{<1~M_{\odot}}$). GJ 2060 AB and TWA 22 AB are two rare astrometric M-dwarf binaries respectively members of the AB Doradus and Beta Pictoris moving groups. As their dynamical mass can be measured within a few years, they can be used to calibrate the evolutionary tracks and set new constraints on the age of young moving groups. We find a total mass of $\mathrm{0.18\pm 0.02~M_\odot}$ for TWA 22. That mass is in good agreement with model predictions at the age of the Beta Pic moving group. We obtain a total mass of $\mathrm{1.09 \pm 0.10~M_{\odot}}$ for GJ 2060. We estimate a spectral type of M$1\pm0.5$, $\mathrm{L/L_{\odot}=-1.20\pm0.05}$ dex, and $\mathrm{T_{eff}=3700\pm100}$ K for GJ 2060 A. The B component is a M$3\pm0.5$ dwarf with $\mathrm{L/L_{\odot}=-1.63\pm0.05}$ dex and $\mathrm{T_{eff}=3400\pm100}$ K. The dynamical mass of GJ 2060 AB is inconsistent with the most recent models predictions (BCAH15, PARSEC) for an ABDor age in the range 50-150 Myr. It is 10 to 20\% (1-2 sigma, depending on the assumed age) above the models predictions, corresponding to an underestimation of $0.10$ to $0.20~\mathrm{M_\odot}$. Coevality suggests a young age for the system ($\sim$ 50 Myr) according to most evolutionary models. TWA 22 validates the predictions of recent evolutionary tracks at $\sim$20 Myr. On the other hand, we evidence a 1-2 sigma mismatch between the predicted and observed mass of GJ 2060 AB. This slight departure may indicate that one of the star hosts a tight companion. Alternatively, this would confirm the models tendency to underestimate the mass of young low-mass stars.

astro-ph.SR

Using the CIFIST grid of CO5BOLD 3D model atmospheres to study the effects of stellar granulation on photometric colours. I. Grids of 3D corrections in the UBVRI, 2MASS, Hipparcos, Gaia, and SDSS systems

The atmospheres of cool stars are temporally and spatially inhomogeneous due to the effects of convection.The influence of this inhomogeneity, referred to as granulation, on colours has never been investigated over a large range of effective temperatures and gravities. We aim to study, in a quantitative way, the impact of granulation on colours. We use the CIFIST grid of CO5BOLD hydrodynamical models to compute emerging fluxes. These in turn are used to compute theoretical colours in the UBVRI,2MASS,Hipparcos,Gaia and SDSS systems. Every CO5BOLD model has a corresponding one dimensional (1D) plane-parallel LHD model computed for the same atmospheric parameters, which we used to define a "3D correction" that can be applied to colours computed from fluxes computed from any 1D model atmosphere code. The 3D corrections on colours are generally small, of the order of a few hundredths of a magnitude, yet they are far from negligible. We find that ignoring granulation effects can lead to underestimation of Teff by up to 200K and overestimation of gravity by up to 0.5dex, when using colours as diagnostics. We have identified a major shortcoming in how scattering is treated in the current version of the CIFIST grid, which could lead to offsets of the order 0.01mag, especially for colours involving blue and UV bands.We have investigated the Gaia and Hipparcos photometric systems and found that the (G-H_p),(BP-RP) diagram is immune to the effects of granulation. In addition, we point to the potential of the RVS photometry as a metallicity diagnostic. Our investigation shows that the effects of granulation should not be neglected if one wants to use colours as diagnostics of the stellar parameters of F,G,K stars. A limitation is that scattering is treated as true absorption in our current computations, thus our 3D corrections are likely an upper limit to the true effect. (Abridged)

astro-ph.SR

The Astropy Project: Building an inclusive, open-science project and status of the v2.0 core package

The Astropy project supports and fosters the development of open-source and openly-developed Python packages that provide commonly-needed functionality to the astronomical community. A key element of the Astropy project is the core package Astropy, which serves as the foundation for more specialized projects and packages. In this article, we provide an overview of the organization of the Astropy project and summarize key features in the core package as of the recent major release, version 2.0. We then describe the project infrastructure designed to facilitate and support development for a broader ecosystem of inter-operable packages. We conclude with a future outlook of planned new features and directions for the broader Astropy project.

astro-ph.IM

Photospheric properties and fundamental parameters of M dwarfs

M dwarfs are an important source of information when studying and probing the lower end of the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram, down to the hydrogen-burning limit. Being the most numerous and oldest stars in the galaxy, they carry fundamental information on its chemical history. The presence of molecules in their atmospheres, along with various condensed species, complicates our understanding of their physical properties and thus makes the determination of their fundamental stellar parameters more challenging and difficult. The aim of this study is to perform a detailed spectroscopic analysis of the high-resolution H-band spectra of M dwarfs in order to determine their fundamental stellar parameters and to validate atmospheric models. The present study will also help us to understand various processes, including dust formation and depletion of metals onto dust grains in M dwarf atmospheres. The high spectral resolution also provides a unique opportunity to constrain other chemical and physical processes that occur in a cool atmosphere The high-resolution APOGEE spectra of M dwarfs, covering the entire H-band, provide a unique opportunity to measure their fundamental parameters. We have performed a detailed spectral synthesis by comparing these high-resolution H-band spectra to that of the most recent BT-settl model and have obtained fundamental parameters such as effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity (Teff, log g and [Fe/H]) respectively.

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Spectral and atmospheric characterization of 51 Eridani b using VLT/SPHERE

51 Eridani b is an exoplanet around a young (20 Myr) nearby (29.4 pc) F0-type star, recently discovered by direct imaging. Being only 0.5" away from its host star it is well suited for spectroscopic analysis using integral field spectrographs. We aim to refine the atmospheric properties of this and to further constrain the architecture of the system by searching for additional companions. Using the SPHERE instrument at the VLT we extend the spectral coverage of the planet to the complete Y- to H-band range and provide photometry in the K12-bands (2.11, 2.25 micron). The object is compared to other cool and peculiar dwarfs. Furthermore, the posterior probability distributions of cloudy and clear atmospheric models are explored using MCMC. We verified our methods by determining atmospheric parameters for the two benchmark brown dwarfs Gl 570D and HD 3651B. For probing the innermost region for additional companions, archival VLT-NACO (L') SAM data is used. We present the first spectrophotometric measurements in the Y- and K-bands for the planet and revise its J-band flux to values 40% fainter than previous measurements. Cloudy models with uniform cloud coverage provide a good match to the data. We derive the temperature, radius, surface gravity, metallicity and cloud sedimentation parameter f_sed. We find that the atmosphere is highly super-solar (Fe/H~1.0) with an extended, thick cloud cover of small particles. The model radius and surface gravity suggest planetary masses of about 9 M_jup. The evolutionary model only provides a lower mass limit of >2 M_jup (for pure hot-start). The cold-start model cannot explain the planet's luminosity. The SPHERE and NACO/SAM detection limits probe the 51 Eri system at Solar System scales and exclude brown-dwarf companions more massive than 20 M_jup beyond separations of ~2.5 au and giant planets more massive than 2 M_jup beyond 9 au.

astro-ph.EP

CFBDSIR 2149-0403: young isolated planetary-mass object or high-metallicity low-mass brown dwarf??

We conducted a multi-wavelength, multi-instrument observational characterisation of the candidate free-floating planet CFBDSIR~J214947.2-040308.9, a late T-dwarf with possible low-gravity features, in order to constrain its physical properties. We analyzed 9 hours of X-Shooter spectroscopy with signal detectable from 0.8--2.3$μ$m, as well as additional photometry in the mid-infrared using the Spitzer Space Telescope. Combined with a VLT/HAWK-I astrometric parallax, this enabled a full characterisation of the absolute flux from the visible to 5$μ$m, encompassing more than 90\% of the expected energy emitted by such a cool late T-type object. Our analysis of the spectrum also provided the radial velocity and therefore the determination of its full 3-D kinematics. While our new spectrum confirms the low gravity and/or high metallicity of CFBDSIR2149, the parallax and kinematics safely rule out membership to any known young moving group, including AB~Doradus. We use the equivalent width of the KI doublet at 1.25$μ$m as a promising tool to discriminate the effects of low-gravity from the effects of high-metallicity on the emission spectra of cool atmospheres. In the case of CFBDSIR2149, the observed KI doublet clearly favours the low-gravity solution. CFBDSIR2149 is therefore a peculiar late-T dwarf that is probably a young, planetary-mass object (2--13Mjup, $<$500Myr) possibly similar to the exoplanet 51Erib, or perhaps a 2--40Mjup brown dwarf with super-solar metallicity.

astro-ph.SR

Primeval very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs - II. The most metal-poor substellar object

SDSS J010448.46+153501.8 has previously been classified as an sdM9.5 subdwarf. However, its very blue $J-K$ colour ($-0.15 \pm 0.17$) suggests a much lower metallicity compared to normal sdM9.5 subdwarfs. Here, we re-classify this object as a usdL1.5 subdwarf based on a new optical and near-infrared spectrum obtained with X-shooter on the Very Large Telescope. Spectral fitting with BT-Settl models leads to $T_{\rm eff}$ = 2450 $\pm$ 150 K, [Fe/H] = $-$2.4 $\pm$ 0.2 and log $g$ = 5.5 $\pm$ 0.25. We estimate a mass for SDSS J010448.46+153501.8 of 0.086 $\pm$ 0.0015 M$_{\odot}$ which is just below the hydrogen-burning minimum mass at [Fe/H] = $-$2.4 ($\sim$0.088 M$_{\odot}$) according to evolutionary models. Our analysis thus shows SDSS J0104+15 to be the most metal-poor and highest mass substellar object known to-date. We found that SDSS J010448.46+153501.8 is joined by another five known L subdwarfs (2MASS J05325346+8246465, 2MASS J06164006$-$6407194, SDSS J125637.16$-$022452.2, ULAS J151913.03$-$000030.0 and 2MASS J16262034+3925190) in a 'halo brown dwarf transition zone' in the $T_{\rm eff}-$[Fe/H] plane, which represents a narrow mass range in which unsteady nuclear fusion occurs. This halo brown dwarf transition zone forms a 'substellar subdwarf gap' for mid L to early T types.

astro-ph.SR

An in-depth spectroscopic examination of molecular bands from 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres. II. Carbon-enhanced metal-poor 3D model atmospheres

Context. Tighter constraints on metal-poor stars we observe are needed to better understand the chemical processes of the early Universe. Computing a stellar spectrum in 3D allows one to model complex stellar behaviours, which cannot be replicated in 1D. Aims. We examine the effect that the intrinsic CNO abundances have on a 3D model structure and the resulting 3D spectrum synthesis. Methods. Model atmospheres were computed in 3D for three distinct CNO chemical compositions using the CO 5 BOLD model atmosphere code, and their internal structures were examined. Synthetic spectra were computed from these models using Linfor3D and they were compared. New 3D abundance corrections for the G-band and a selection of UV OH lines were also computed. Results. The varying CNO abundances change the metal content of the 3D models. This had an effect on the model structure and the resulting synthesis. However, it was found that the C/O ratio had a larger effect than the overall metal content of a model. Conclusions. Our results suggest that varying the C/O ratio has a substantial impact on the internal structure of the 3D model, even in the hot turn-off star models explored here. This suggests that bespoke 3D models, for specific CNO abundances should be sought. Such effects are not seen in 1D at these temperature regimes.

astro-ph.SR