arXiv subjects

I. Neill Reid

Publications and source records attributed to I. Neill Reid.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Searching for Earth analogues around the nearest stars: the disk age-metallicity relation and the age distribution in the Solar Neighbourhood

The chemical composition of Earth's atmosphere has undergone substantial evolution over the course of its history. It is possible, even likely, that terrestrial planets in other planetary systems have undergone similar changes; consequently, the age distribution of nearby stars is an important consideration in designing surveys for Earth-analogues. Valenti & Fischer (2005) provide age and metallicity estimates for 1039 FGK dwarfs in the Solar Neighbourhood. Using the Hipparcos catalogue as a reference to calibrate potential biases, we have extracted volume-limited samples of nearby stars from the Valenti-Fischer dataset. Unlike other recent investigations, our analysis shows clear evidence for an age-metallicity relation in the local disk, albeit with substantial dispersion at any epoch. The mean metallicity increases from -0.3 dex at a lookback time of ~10 Gyrs to +0.15 dex at the present day. Supplementing the Valenti-Fischer measurements with literature data to give a complete volume-limited sample, the age distribution of nearby FGK dwarfs is broadly consistent with a uniform star-formation rate over the history of the Galactic disk. In striking contrast, most stars known to have planetary companions are younger than 5 Gyrs; however, stars with planetary companions within 0.4 AU have a significantly flatter age distribution, indicating that those systems are stable on timescales of many Gyrs. Several of the older, lower metallicity host stars have enhanced [alpha/Fe] ratios, implying membership of the thick disk. If the frequency of terrestrial planets is also correlated with stellar metallicity, then the median age of such planetary system is likely to be ~3 Gyrs. We discuss the implications of this hypothesis in designing searches for Earth analogues among the nearby stars.

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arXiv2007

Activity and Kinematics of Ultracool Dwarfs Including An Amazing Flare Observation

We present the activity and kinematics of a representative volume-limited (20 pc) sample of 152 late-M and L dwarfs (M7--L8) photometrically selected from the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS). Using new proper motion measurements and spectrophotometric distance estimates, we calculate tangential velocities. The sample has a mean tangential velocity of = 31.5 km/s, a velocity dispersion of sigma_tan = 20.7 km/s, and a maximum tangential velocity of V_tan = 138.8 km/s. These kinematic results are in excellent agreement with previous studies of ultracool dwarfs in the local solar neighborhood. H_alpha emission, an indicator of chromospheric activity, was detected in 63 of 81 late-M dwarfs and 16 of 69 L dwarfs examined. We find a lack of correlation between activity strength, measured by log(F_H_alpha/F_bol), and V_tan, though velocity distributions suggest that the active dwarfs in our sample are slightly younger than the inactive dwarfs. Consistent with previous studies of activity in ultracool dwarfs, we find that the fraction of H$α$ emitting objects per spectral type peaks at spectral type M7 and declines through mid-L dwarfs. Activity strength is similarly correlated with spectral type for spectral types later than M7. Eleven dwarfs out of 150 show evidence of variability, ranging from small fluctuations to large flare events. We estimate a flare cycle of ~5% for late-M dwarfs and ~2% for L dwarfs. Observations of strong, variable activity on the L1 dwarf 2MASS J10224821+5825453 and an amazing flare event on the the M7 dwarf 2MASS J1028404$-$143843 are discussed.

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arXiv2006

Discovery of 9 New Companions to Nearby Young M Stars with the Altair AO System

We present results of a high-resolution, near-infrared survey of 41 nearby, young (<~300 Myr) M0-M5.0 dwarfs using the Altair natural guide star adaptive optics system at the Gemini North telescope. Twelve of the objects appear to be binaries, 7 of which are reported here for the first time. One triple system was discovered. Statistical properties are studied and compared with earlier (F to K) and later (>= M6 very low-mass, VLM) populations. We find that the separation distribution of the binaries in this sample peaks at 13+14-9 AU, which is consistent with previous measurements of early-M binaries. Hence, early-M binaries seem to occur in--on average--tighter systems than G binaries. At the same time they are significantly wider than field VLM binary stars. The distribution of mass ratios q of primary and secondary stars was found to show an intermediate distribution between the strongly q-->1 peaked distribution of field VLM systems and the almost flat distribution of earlier-type stars. Consequently, we show evidence for relatively young, early-M binaries representing a transition between the well known earlier star distributions and the recently examined field VLM population characteristics. Despite the fact that this survey was dedicated to the search for faint brown dwarf and planetary mass companions, all planetary mass candidates were background objects. We exclude the existence of physical companions with masses greater than 10 Jupiter masses (M_Jup) at separations of >~40 AU and masses greater than 24 M_Jup for separations >~10 AU around 37 of the 41 observed objects.

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arXiv2006

A Re-appraisal of the Habitability of Planets Around M Dwarf Stars

Stable, hydrogen-burning, M dwarf stars comprise about 75% of all stars in the Galaxy. They are extremely long-lived and because they are much smaller in mass than the Sun (between 0.5 and 0.08 MSun), their temperature and stellar luminosity are low and peaked in the red. We have re-examined what is known at present about the potential for a terrestrial planet forming within, or migrating into, the classic liquid-surface-water habitable zone close to an M dwarf star. Observations of protoplanetary disks suggest that planet-building materials are common around M dwarfs, but N-body simulations differ in their estimations of the likelihood of potentially-habitable, wet planets residing within their habitable zones, which are only ~ 1/5 to 1/50 of the width of that for a G star. Particularly in light of the claimed detection of the planets with masses as small as 5.5 and 7.5 MEarth orbiting M stars, there seems no reason to exclude the possibility of terrestrial planets. Tidally locked synchronous rotation within the narrow habitable zone doesn't necessarily lead to atmospheric collapse, and active stellar flaring may not be as much of an evolutionarily disadvantageous factor as has previously been supposed. We conclude that M dwarf stars may indeed be viable hosts for planets on which the origin and evolution of life can occur. A number of planetary processes such as cessation of geothermal activity, or thermal and non-thermal atmospheric loss processes may limit the duration of planetary habitability to periods far shorter than the extreme lifetime of the M dwarf star. Nevertheless, it makes sense to include M dwarf stars in programs that seek to find habitable worlds and evidence of life.

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arXiv2006

A New Brown Dwarf Desert? A Scarcity of Wide Ultracool Binaries

We present the results of a deep-imaging search for wide companions to low-mass stars and brown dwarfs using NSFCam on IRTF. We searched a sample of 132 M7-L8 dwarfs to magnitude limits of $J \sim 20.5$ and $K \sim 18.5$, corresponding to secondary-primary mass ratios of $\sim 0.5$. No companions were found with separations between $2{\arcsec}$ to $31{\arcsec}$ ($\sim$40 AU to $\sim$1000 AU). This null result implies a wide companion frequency below 2.3% at the 95% confidence level within the sensitivity limits of the survey. Preliminary modeling efforts indicate that we could have detected 85% of companions more massive than $0.05 M_{\odot}$ and 50% above $0.03 M_{\odot}$.

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arXiv2006

Meeting the Cool Neighbors. IX. The Luminosity Function of M7-L8 Ultracool Dwarfs in the Field

We present a 20-pc, volume-limited sample of M7-L8 dwarfs created through spectroscopic follow-up of sources selected from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) Second Incremental Release Point Source Catalog. In this paper, we present optical spectroscopy of 198 candidate nearby ultracool dwarfs, including 12 late-M and L dwarfs likely to be within 20 pc of the Sun and 94 more distant late-type dwarfs. We have also identified five ultracool dwarfs with spectral signatures of low-gravity. Combining these data with previous results, we define a sample of 99 ultracool dwarfs in 91 systems within 20 pc. These are used to estimate the J- and K-band luminosity functions for dwarfs with optical spectral types between M7 and L8 (10.5<M_J<15, 9.5<M_K<13). We find a space density of 4.9 x 10^-3 pc^-3 for late-M dwarfs (M7-M9.5) and a lower limit of 3.8 x 10^-3 pc^-3 for L dwarfs.

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arXiv2006

Using the Galactic Dynamics of M7 Dwarfs to Infer the Evolution of Their Magnetic Activity

We present a spectroscopic study and dynamical analysis of ~2600 M7 dwarfs. We confirm our previous finding that the fraction of magnetically active stars decreases with vertical distance from the Galactic plane. We also show that the mean luminosity of the H-alpha emission has a small but statistically significant decrease with distance. Using space motions for ~1300 stars and a simple one-dimensional dynamical simulation, we demonstrate that the drop in the activity fraction of M7 dwarfs can be explained by thin disk dynamical heating and a rapid decrease of magnetic activity at a mean stellar age of ~6-7 Gyr.

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arXiv2006

Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS Observations of T Dwarfs: Brown Dwarf Multiplicity and New Probes of the L/T Transition

We present the results of a Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS imaging survey of 22 T-type field brown dwarfs. Five are resolved as binary systems with angular separations of 0"05-0"35, and companionship is established on the basis of component F110W-F170M colors (indicative of CH4 absorption) and low probabilities of background contamination. Prior ground-based observations show 2MASS 1553+1532AB to be a common proper motion binary. The properties of these systems - low multiplicity fraction (11[+7][-3]% resolved, as corrected for sample selection baises), close projected separations (a = 1.8-5.0 AU) and near-unity mass ratios - are consistent with previous results for field brown dwarf binaries. Three of the binaries have components that span the poorly-understood transition between L dwarfs and T dwarfs. Spectral decomposition analysis of one of these, SDSS 1021-0304AB, reveals a peculiar flux reversal between its components, as its T5 secondary is ~30% brighter at 1.05 and 1.27 micron than its T1 primary. This system, 2MASS 0518-2828AB and SDSS 1534+1615AB all demonstrate that the J-band brightening observed between late-type L to mid-type T dwarfs is an intrinsic feature of this spectral transition, albeit less pronounced than previously surmised. We also find that the resolved binary fraction of L7 to T3.5 dwarfs is twice that of other L and T dwarfs, an anomaly that can be explained by a relatively rapid evolution of brown dwarfs through the L/T transition, perhaps driven by dynamic (nonequilibrium) depletion of photospheric condensates.

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arXiv2006

Not Alone: Tracing the Origins of Very Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs Through Multiplicity Studies

The properties of multiple stellar systems have long provided important empirical constraints for star formation theories, enabling (along with several other lines of evidence) a concrete, qualitative picture of the birth and early evolution of normal stars. At very low masses (VLM; M <~ 0.1 M_sun), down to and below the hydrogen burning minimum mass, our understanding of formation processes is not as clear, with several competing theories now under consideration. One means of testing these theories is through the empirical characterization of VLM multiple systems. Here, we review the results of various VLM multiplicity studies to date. These systems can be generally characterized as closely separated (93% have projected separations Delta < 20 AU) and near equal-mass (77% have M_2/M_1 >= 0.8) occurring infrequently (perhaps 10-30%). Both the frequency and maximum separation of stellar and brown dwarf binaries steadily decrease for lower system masses, suggesting that VLM binary formation and/or evolution may be a mass-dependent process. There is evidence for a fairly rapid decline in the number of loosely-bound systems below ~0.3 M_sun, corresponding to a factor of 10-20 increase in the minimum binding energy of VLM binaries as compared to more massive stellar binaries. This wide-separation ``desert'' is present among both field (~1-5 Gyr) and older (> 100 Myr) cluster systems, while the youngest (<~10 Myr) VLM binaries, particularly those in nearby, low-density star forming regions, appear to have somewhat different systemic properties. We compare these empirical trends to predictions laid out by current formation theories, and outline future observational studies needed to probe the full parameter space of the lowest mass multiple systems.

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arXiv2005

SDSS J042348.57-041403.5AB: A Brown Dwarf Binary Straddling the L/T Transition

We present the discovery of SDSS J042348.57-041403.5 as a closely-separated (0"16) brown dwarf binary, resolved by the Hubble Space Telescope Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer. Physical association is deduced from the angular proximity of the components and constraints on their common proper motion. SDSS0423-0414AB appears to be composed of two brown dwarfs with spectral types L6+/-1 and T2+/-1. Hence, this system straddles the transition between L dwarfs and T dwarfs, a unique evolutionary phase of brown dwarfs characterized by substantial shifts in spectral morphology over an apparently narrow effective temperature range. Binarity explains a number of unusual properties of SDSS 0423-0414, including its overluminosity and high effective temperature compared to other early-type T dwarfs, and possibly its conflicting spectral classifications (L7.5 in the optical, T0 in the near infrared). The relatively short estimated orbital period of this system (~15-20 yr) and the presence of Li I absorption in its combined light spectrum make it an ideal target for both resolved spectroscopy and dynamical mass measurements. SDSS 0423-0414AB joins a growing list of late-L/early-T dwarf binaries, the high percentage of which (~50%) may provide a natural explanation for observed peculiarities across the L/T transition.

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arXiv2005

The Radio Spectrum of TVLM513-46546: Constraints on the Coronal Properties of a Late M Dwarf

We explore the radio emission from the M9 dwarf, TVLM513-46546, at multiple radio frequencies, determining the flux spectrum of persistent radio emission, as well as constraining the levels of circular polarization. Detections at both 3.6 and 6 cm provide spectral index measurement $α$ (where S$_ν \propto ν^α$) of $-0.4\pm0.1$. A detection at 20 cm suggests that the spectral peak is between 1.4 and 5 GHz. The most stringent upper limits on circular polarization are at 3.6 and 6 cm, with $V/I <$15%. These characteristics agree well with those of typical parameters for early to mid M dwarfs, confirming that magnetic activity is present at levels comparable with those extrapolated from earlier M dwarfs. We apply analytic models to investigate the coronal properties under simple assumptions of dipole magnetic field geometry and radially varying nonthermal electron density distributions. Requiring the spectrum to be optically thin at frequencies higher than 5 GHz and reproducing the observed 3.6 cm fluxes constrains the magnetic field at the base to be less than about 500 G. There is no statistically significant periodicity in the 3.6 cm light curve, but it is consistent with low-level variability.

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arXiv2004

Discovery of Two Very Low-Mass Binaries: Final Results of an Adaptive Optics Survey of Nearby M6.0-M7.5 Stars

We present updated results of a high-resolution, magnitude limited (Ks<12 mag) imaging survey of nearby low-mass M6.0-M7.5 field stars. The observations were carried out using adaptive optics at the Gemini North, VLT, Keck II, and Subaru telescopes. Our sample of 36 stars consists predominantly of nearby (<30 pc) field stars, 5 of which we have resolved as binaries. Two of the binary systems, 2MASSI J0429184-312356 and 2MASSI J1847034+552243, are presented here for the first time. All 5 discovered binary systems have separations between 0.08"-0.53" (2-9 AU) with similar mass ratios (q>0.8, delta Ks < 1 mag). This result supports the hypothesis that wide (a>20 AU) very low-mass (M_tot<0.19 M_sun) binary systems are rare. The projected semimajor axis distribution of these systems peak at ~ 5 AU and we report a sensitivity-corrected binary fraction of 9% (-3%, +4%) for stars with primaries of spectral type M6.0-M7.5 with separations >3 AU and mass ratios q>0.6. Within these instrumental sensitivities, these results support the overall trend that both the semimajor axis distribution and binary fraction are a function of the mass of the primary star and decrease with decreasing primary mass. These observations provide important constraints for low-mass binary star formation theories.

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arXiv2004

The 2MASS Wide-Field T Dwarf Search. III. Seven New T Dwarfs and Other Cool Dwarf Discoveries

We present the discovery of seven new T dwarfs identified in the Two Micron All Sky Survey. Low-resolution (R$\sim$150) 0.8--2.5 micron spectroscopy obtained with the IRTF SpeX instrument reveal the characteristic H$_2$O and CH$_4$ bands in the spectra of these brown dwarfs. Comparison to spectral standards observed with the same instrument enable us to derive classifications of T3 to T7 for the objects in this sample. Moderate-resolution (R$\sim$1200) near-infrared spectroscopy for a subset of these discoveries reveal K I line strengths consistent with previously observed trends with spectral type. Follow-up imaging observations provide proper motion measurements for these sources, ranging from $<$ 0$\farcs$1 to 1$\farcs$55 yr$^{-1}$. One object, 2MASS 0034+0523, has a spectrophotometric distance placing it within 10 pc of the Sun. This source also exhibits a depressed K-band peak reminiscent of the peculiar T dwarf 2MASS 0937+2931, and may be a metal-poor or old, high-mass brown dwarf. We also present low resolution SpeX data for a set of M and L-type dwarf, subdwarf, and giant comparison stars used to classify 59 additional candidates identified as background stars. These are primarily M5-M8.5 dwarfs, many exhibiting H I Paschen $γ$, but include three candidate ultracool M subdwarfs and one possible early-type L subdwarf.

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arXiv2004

2MASS J05185995-2828372: Discovery of an Unresolved L/T Binary

We present the peculiar near-infrared spectrum of the newly discovered brown dwarf 2MASS J05185995-2828372, identified in the Two Micron All-Sky Survey. Features characteristic of both L and T dwarfs are present, namely strong carbon monoxide absorption in K-band, strong methane absorption in J- and H-bands, and red near-infrared colors. We consider several scenarios that could produce these features and conclude that the object is most likely to be an unresolved L/T binary system. We discuss how the estimated photometric properties of this object are consistent with the observed J-band brightening of brown dwarfs between late-L and early-T dwarfs, making detailed study of this system an important probe of the L/T transition.

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arXiv2004

Star Clusters in the Galactic Anticenter Stellar Structure and the Origin of Outer Old Open Clusters

The Galactic Anticenter Stellar Structure (GASS) has been identified with excess surface densities of field stars in several large area sky surveys, and with an unusual, string-like grouping of five globular clusters. At least two of these are diffuse, young ``transitional'' clusters between open and globular types. Here we call attention to the fact that four {\it younger} open or transitional clusters extend the previously identified, string-like cluster grouping, with at least one having a radial velocity consistent with the previously found GASS velocity-longitude trend. All nine clusters lie close to a plane tipped 17$\arcdeg$ to the Galactic plane. This planar orientation is used to forage for additional potential cluster members in the inner Galaxy, and a number are found along the same plane and string-like sequence, {\it including almost all fifteen known outer, old open clusters}. Tidal accretion of a dwarf satellite galaxy on a low inclination orbit -- perhaps the GASS system -- appears to be a plausible explanation for the origin of the outer, old open and transitional clusters of the Milky Way. We use these clusters to explore the age-metallicity relation of the putative accreted GASS progenitor. Finally, we provide the first radial velocity of a star in the cluster BH 176 and discuss its implications.

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arXiv2003

S Ori 70: Just a Foreground Field Brown Dwarf?

We examine recent claims that the T-type brown dwarf S Ori 053810.1-023626 (S Ori 70) is a spectroscopically verified low mass (3$^{+5}_{-1}$ M$_{Jup}$) member of the 1--8 Myr $σ$ Orionis cluster. Comparative arguments by Mart{í}n & Zapatero Osorio asserting that S Ori 70 exhibits low surface gravity spectral features indicative of youth and low mass are invalidated by the fact that their comparison object was not the field T dwarf 2MASS 0559$-$1404 but rather a nearby background star. Instead, we find that the 1--2.5 $\micron$ spectra of S Ori 70 are well-matched to older (age $\sim$ few Gyr) field T6--T7 dwarfs. Moreover, we find that spectral model fits to late-type field T dwarf spectra tend to yield low surface gravities ($\log{g}$ = 3.0--3.5), and thus young ages ($\lesssim$ 5 Myr) and low masses ($\lesssim$ 3 M$_{Jup}$), inconsistent with expected and/or empirical values. Finally, we show that the identification of one T dwarf in the field imaged by Zapatero Osorio et al. is statistically consistent with the expected foreground contamination. Based on the re-examined evidence, we conclude that S Ori 70 may simply be an old, massive (30--60 M$_{Jup}$) field brown dwarf lying in the foreground of the $σ$ Orionis cluster. This interpretation should be considered before presuming the existence of so-called ``cluster planets.''

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arXiv2003

The Subdwarf Luminosity Function

Using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Early Data Release and SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey scans of POSS-I plates we identify a sample of 2600 subdwarfs using reduced proper motion methods and strict selection criteria. This forms one of the largest and most reliable samples of candidate subdwarfs known, and enables us to determine accurate luminosity functions along many different lines of sight. We derive the subdwarf luminosity function with unprecedented accuracy to M_V <= 12.5, finding good agreement with recent local estimates but discrepancy with results for the more distant spheroid. This provides further evidence that the inner and outer parts of the stellar halo cannot be described by a single density distribution. We also find that the form of the inner spheroid density profile within heliocentric distances of 2.5 kpc is closely matched by a power law with an index of -3.15 +/- 0.3.

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arXiv2003

Meeting the Cool Neighbours, VI: A search for nearby ultracool dwarfs in the Galactic Plane

Surveys for nearby low-luminosity dwarfs tend to avoid the crowded regions of the Galactic Plane. We have devised near-infrared colour-magnitude and colour-colour selection criteria designed to identify late-type M and early-type L dwarfs within 12 parsecs of the Sun. We use those criteria to search for candidates within the regions of the Galactic Plane (|b| < 10^o) covered by the Second Incremental Release of data from the Two-Micron All Sky Survey. Detailed inspection of the available photographic images of the resulting 1299 candidates confirms only two as ultracool dwarfs. Both are known proper motion stars, identified in the recent survey by Lepine et al (2002). Despite the low numbers, the inferred surface density is consistent with comparable surveys at higher latitudes. We discuss the implications for the luminosity function, and consider means of improving the efficiency and scope of photometric surveys in the Plane.

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