arXiv subjects

V. J. S. Bejar

Publications and source records attributed to V. J. S. Bejar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

The GAPS Programme at TNG. LIX. A characterisation study of the $\sim$300 Myr old multi-planetary system orbiting the star BD+40 2790 (TOI-2076)

We collected more than 300 high-resolution spectra of the 300 Myr old star BD+40 2790 (TOI-2076) over ~3 years. This star hosts three transiting planets discovered by TESS, with orbital periods ~10, 21, and 35 days. BD+40 2790 shows an activity-induced scatter larger than 30 m/s in the radial velocities. We employed different methods to measure the stellar radial velocities and several models to filter out the dominant stellar activity signal, in order to bring to light the planet-induced signals which are expected to have semi-amplitudes one order of magnitude lower. We evaluated the mass loss rate of the planetary atmospheres using photoionization hydrodynamic modeling. The dynamical analysis confirms that the three sub-Neptune-sized companions (our radius measurements are $R_b$=2.54$\pm$0.04, $R_c$=3.35$\pm$0.05, and $R_d$=3.29$\pm$0.06 $R_{\rm Earth}$) have masses in the planetary regime. We derive 3$σ$ upper limits below or close to the mass of Neptune for all the planets: 11--12, 12--13.5, and 14--19 $M_{\rm Earth}$ for planet $b$, $c$, and $d$ respectively. In the case of planet $d$, we found promising clues that the mass could be between ~7 and 8 $M_{\rm Earth}$, with a significance level between 2.3--2.5$σ$ (at best). This result must be further investigated using other analysis methods or using high-precision near-IR spectrographs to collect new radial velocities, which could be less affected by stellar activity. Atmospheric photo-evaporation simulations predict that BD+40~2790 b is currently losing its H-He gaseous envelope, which will be completely lost at an age within 0.5--3 Gyr if its current mass is lower than 12 $M_{\rm Earth}$. BD+40 2790 c could have a lower bulk density than $b$, and it could retain its atmosphere up to an age of 5 Gyr. For the outermost planet $d$, we predict almost negligible evolution of its mass and radius induced by photo-evaporation.

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arXiv2023

New constraints on the presence of debris disks around G 196-3 B and VHS J125601.92-125723.9 b

We obtained deep images of G 196-3 B and VHS J1256-1257 b with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) at 1.3 mm. These data were combined with recently published Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and Very Large Array (VLA) data of VHS J1256-1257 b at 0.87 mm and 0.9 cm, respectively. Neither G 196-3 B nor VHS J1256-1257 b were detected in the NOEMA, ALMA and VLA data. At 1.3 mm, we imposed flux upper limits of 0.108 mJy (G 196-3 B) and 0.153 mJy (VHS J1256-1257 b) with a 3-sigma confidence. Using the flux upper limits at the millimeter and radio wavelength regimes, we derived maximum values of 0.016 M$_{\rm Earth}$ and 0.004 M$_{\rm Earth}$ for the mass of any cold dust that might be surrounding G 196-3 B and VHS J1256-1257 b, respectively. We put our results in the context of other deep millimeter observations of free-floating and companion objects with substellar masses smaller than 20 M$_{\rm Jupiter}$ and ages between 1 and a few hundred million years. Only two very young objects are detected out of a few tens concluding, as other groups did before, that the disks around these very low-mass objects must have small masses and possibly reduced sizes. If debris disks around substellar objects scale down in a similar manner as protoplanetary disks do, millimeter observations of moderately young brown dwarfs and planets must be at least two orders of magnitude deeper for being able to detect and characterize their surrounding debris disks.

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arXiv2022

A detailed analysis of the Gl 486 planetary system

The Gl 486 system consists of a very nearby, relatively bright, weakly active M3.5 V star at just 8 pc with a warm transiting rocky planet of about 1.3 R_Terra and 3.0 M_Terra that is ideal for both transmission and emission spectroscopy and for testing interior models of telluric planets. To prepare for future studies, we collected light curves of seven new transits observed with the CHEOPS space mission and new radial velocities obtained with MAROON-X/Gemini North and CARMENES/Calar Alto telescopes, together with previously published spectroscopic and photometric data from the two spectrographs and TESS. We also performed interferometric observations with the CHARA Array and new photometric monitoring with a suite of smaller telescopes. From interferometry, we measure a limb-darkened disc angular size of the star Gl 486. Together with a corrected Gaia EDR3 parallax, we obtain a stellar radius. We also measure a stellar rotation period at P_rot ~ 49.9 d, an upper limit to its XUV (5-920 AA) flux with new Hubble/STIS data, and, for the first time, a variety of element abundances (Fe, Mg, Si, V, Sr, Zr, Rb) and C/O ratio. Besides, we impose restrictive constraints on the presence of additional components, either stellar or substellar, in the system. With the input stellar parameters and the radial-velocity and transit data, we determine the radius and mass of the planet Gl 486 b at R_p = 1.343+/0.063 R_Terra and M_p = 3.00+/-0.13 M_Terra. From the planet parameters and the stellar element abundances, we infer the most probable models of planet internal structure and composition, which are consistent with a relatively small metallic core with respect to the Earth, a deep silicate mantle, and a thin volatile upper layer. With all these ingredients, we outline prospects for Gl 486 b atmospheric studies, especially with forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope observations (abridged).

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arXiv2022

The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs: Two Saturn-mass planets orbiting active stars

The CARMENES radial-velocity survey is currently searching for planets in a sample of 387 M dwarfs. Here we report on two Saturn-mass planets orbiting TYC 2187-512-1 ($M_\star = 0.50 M_\odot$) and TZ Ari ($M_\star = 0.15 M_\odot$), respectively. We obtained supplementary photometric time series, which we use along with spectroscopic information to determine the rotation periods of the two stars. In both cases, the radial velocities also show strong modulations at the respective rotation period. We thus modeled the radial velocities as a Keplerian orbit plus a Gaussian process representing the stellar variability. TYC 2187-512-1 is found to harbor a planet with a minimum mass of 0.33 $M_{\rm Jup}$ in a near-circular 692-day orbit. The companion of TZ Ari has a minimum mass of 0.21 $M_{\rm Jup}$, orbital period of 771 d, and orbital eccentricity of 0.46. We provide an overview of all known giant planets in the CARMENES sample, from which we infer an occurrence rate of giant planets orbiting M dwarfs with periods up to 2 years in the range between 2% to 6%. TZ Ari b is only the second giant planet discovered orbiting a host with mass less than 0.3 $M_\odot$. These objects occupy an extreme location in the planet mass versus host mass plane. It is difficult to explain their formation in core-accretion scenarios, so they may possibly have been formed through a disk fragmentation process.

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arXiv2021

Simultaneous photometric and CARMENES spectroscopic monitoring of fast-rotating M dwarf GJ 3270. Discovery of a post-flare corotating feature

Context: Active M dwarfs frequently exhibit large flares, which can pose an existential threat to the habitability of any planet in orbit in addition to making said planets more difficult to detect. M dwarfs do not lose angular momentum as easily as earlier-type stars, which maintain the high levels of stellar activity for far longer. Studying young, fast-rotating M dwarfs is key to understanding their near stellar environment and the evolution of activity Aims: We study stellar activity on the fast-rotating M dwarf GJ 3270. Methods: We analyzed dedicated high cadence, simultaneous, photometric and high-resolution spectroscopic observations obtained with CARMENES of GJ 3270 over 7.7 h, covering a total of eight flares of which two are strong enough to facilitate a detailed analysis. We consult the TESS data, obtained in the month prior to our own observations, to study rotational modulation and to compare the TESS flares to those observed in our campaign. Results: The TESS data exhibit rotational modulation with a period of 0.37 d. The strongest flare covered by our observing campaign released a total energy of about 3.6e32 erg, putting it close to the superflare regime. This flare is visible in the B,V, r, i, and z photometric bands, which allows us to determine a peak temperature of about 10,000 K. The flare also leaves clear marks in the spectral time series. In particular, we observe an evolving, mainly blue asymmetry in chromospheric lines, which we attribute to a post-flare, corotating feature. To our knowledge this is the first time such a feature has been seen on a star other than our Sun. Conclusions: Our photometric and spectroscopic time series covers the eruption of a strong flare followed up by a corotating feature analogous to a post-flare arcadal loop on the Sun with a possible failed ejection of material.

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arXiv2020

An enhanced slope in the transmission spectrum of the hot Jupiter WASP-104b

We present the optical transmission spectrum of the hot Jupiter WASP-104b based on one transit observed by the blue and red channels of the DBSP spectrograph at the Palomar 200-inch telescope and 14 transits observed by the MuSCAT2 four-channel imager at the 1.52 m Telescopio Carlos Sanchez. We also analyse 45 additional K2 transits, after correcting for the flux contamination from a companion star. Together with the transit light curves acquired by DBSP and MuSCAT2, we are able to revise the system parameters and orbital ephemeris, confirming that no transit timing variations exist. Our DBSP and MuSCAT2 combined transmission spectrum reveals an enhanced slope at wavelengths shorter than 630 nm and suggests the presence of a cloud deck at longer wavelengths. While the Bayesian spectral retrieval analyses favour a hazy atmosphere, stellar spot contamination cannot be completely ruled out. Further evidence, from transmission spectroscopy and detailed characterisation of the host star's activity, is required to distinguish the physical origin of the enhanced slope.

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arXiv2020

Two close binaries across the hydrogen-burning limit in the Praesepe open cluster

We present Keck I/OSIRIS and Keck II/NIRC2 adaptive optics imaging of two member candidates of the Praesepe stellar cluster (d=186.18$\pm$0.11 pc; 590-790 Myr), UGC J08451066+2148171 (L1.5$\pm$0.5) and UGCS J08301935$+$2003293 (no spectroscopic classification). We resolved UGCS J08451066$+$2148171 into a binary system in the near-infrared, with a $K$-band wavelength flux ratio of 0.89$\pm$0.04, a projected separation of 60.3$\pm$1.3 mas (11.2$\pm$0.7 au; 1$σ$). We also resolved UGCS J08301935$+$2003293 into a binary system with a flux ratio of 0.46$\pm$0.03 and a separation of 62.5$\pm$0.9 mas. Assuming zero eccentricity, we estimate minimum orbital periods of $\sim$100 years for both systems. According to theoretical evolutionary models, we derive masses in the range of 0.074-0.078 M$_{\odot}$ and 0.072-0.076 M$_{\odot}$ for the primary and secondary of UGCS J08451066$+$2148171 for an age of 700$\pm$100 Myr. In the case of UGCS J08301935$+$2003293, the primary is a low-mass star at the stellar/substellar boundary (0.070-0.078 M$_{\odot}$) while the companion candidate might be a brown dwarf (0.051-0.065 M$_{\odot}$). These are the first two binaries composed of L dwarfs in Praesepe. They are benchmark systems to derive the location of the substellar limit at the age and metallicity of Praesepe, determine the age of the cluster based on the lithium depletion boundary test, derive dynamical masses, and improve low-mass stellar and substellar evolutionary models at a well-known age and metallicity.

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arXiv2020

The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs: Rubidium abundances in nearby cool stars

In this study, abundances of the neutron-capture elements Rb, Sr, and Zr are derived, for the first time, in a sample of nearby M dwarfs. We focus on stars in the metallicity range -0.5<[Fe/H]<+0.3, an interval poorly explored for Rb abundances in previous analyses. To do this we use high-resolution, high-signal-to-noise-ratio, optical and near-infrared spectra of 57 M dwarfs observed with CARMENES. The resulting [Sr/Fe] and [Zr/Fe] ratios for most M dwarfs are almost constant at about the solar value, and are identical to those found in GK dwarfs of the same metallicity. However, for Rb we find systematic underabundances ([Rb/Fe]<0.0) by a factor two on average. Furthermore, a tendency is found for Rb-but not for other heavy elements (Sr, Zr) -to increase with increasing metallicity such that [Rb/Fe]>0.0 is attained at metallicities higher than solar. These are surprising results, never seen for any other heavy element, and are difficult to understand within the formulation of the s- and r-processes, both contributing sources to the Galactic Rb abundance. We discuss the reliability of these findings for Rb in terms of non-LTE effects, stellar activity, or an anomalous Rb abundance in the Solar System, but no explanation is found. We then interpret the full observed [Rb/Fe] versus [Fe/H] trend within the framework of theoretical predictions from state-of-the-art chemical evolution models for heavy elements, but a simple interpretation is not found either. In particular, the possible secondary behaviour of the [Rb/Fe] ratio at super-solar metallicities would require a much larger production of Rb than currently predicted in AGB stars through the s-process without overproducing Sr and Zr.

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arXiv2020

Precise mass and radius of a transiting super-Earth planet orbiting the M dwarf TOI-1235: a planet in the radius gap?

We report the confirmation of a transiting planet around the bright, inactive M0.5 V star TOI-1235 (TYC 4384-1735-1, V = 11.5 mag), whose transit signal was detected in the photometric time series of Sectors 14, 20, and 21 of the TESS space mission. We confirm the planetary nature of the transit signal, which has a period of 3.44 d, by using precise radial velocity measurements with CARMENES and HARPS-N spectrographs. A comparison of the properties derived for TOI-1235 b's with theoretical models reveals that the planet has a rocky composition, with a bulk density slightly higher than Earth's. In particular, we measure a mass of M_p = 5.9+/-0.6 M_Earth and a radius of R_p = 1.69+/-0.08 R_Earth, which together result in a density of rho_p = 6.7+1.3-1.1 g/cm3. When compared with other well-characterized exoplanetary systems, the particular combination of planetary radius and mass puts our discovery in the radius gap, a transition region between rocky planets and planets with significant atmospheric envelopes, with few known members. While the exact location of the radius gap for M dwarfs is still a matter of debate, our results constrain it to be located at around 1.7 R_Earth or larger at the insolation levels received by TOI-1235 b (~60 S_Earth), which makes it an extremely interesting object for further studies of planet formation and atmospheric evolution.

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arXiv2019

Kojima-1Lb Is a Mildly Cold Neptune around the Brightest Microlensing Host Star

We report the analysis of additional multiband photometry and spectroscopy and new adaptive optics (AO) imaging of the nearby planetary microlensing event TCP J05074264+2447555 (Kojima-1), which was discovered toward the Galactic anticenter in 2017 (Nucita et al.). We confirm the planetary nature of the light-curve anomaly around the peak while finding no additional planetary feature in this event. We also confirm the presence of apparent blending flux and the absence of significant parallax signal reported in the literature. The AO image reveals no contaminating sources, making it most likely that the blending flux comes from the lens star. The measured multiband lens flux, combined with a constraint from the microlensing model, allows us to narrow down the previously unresolved mass and distance of the lens system. We find that the primary lens is a dwarf on the K/M boundary (0.581 \pm 0.033 M_sun) located at 505 \pm 47 pc and the companion (Kojima-1Lb) is a Neptune-mass planet (20.0 \pm 2.0 M_earth) with a semi-major axis of 1.08 ^{+0.62}_{-0.18} au. This orbit is a few times smaller than those of typical microlensing planets and is comparable to the snow-line location at young ages. We calculate that the a priori detection probability of Kojima-1Lb is only \sim 35%, which may imply that Neptunes are common around the snow line, as recently suggested by the transit and radial velocity techniques. The host star is the brightest among the microlensing planetary systems (Ks = 13.7), offering a great opportunity to spectroscopically characterize this system, even with current facilities.

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arXiv2019

Temporal changes of the flare activity of Proxima Cen

We study temporal variations of the emission lines of Halpha, Hepsilon, H and K Ca II, D1 and D2 Na I, 4026 and 5876 A He I in the HARPS spectra of Proxima Centauri across an extended time of 13.2 years, from May 27, 2004, to September 30, 2017. Aims. We analyse the common behaviour and differences in the intensities and profiles of different emission lines in flare and quiet modes of Proxima activity. Methods. We compare the pseudo-equivalent widths (pEW) and profiles of the emission lines in the HARPS high-resolution (R ~ 115,000) spectra observed at the same epochs. Results. All emission lines show variability with a timescale of at least 10 min. The strength of all lines except He I 4026 A correlate with \Halpha. During strong flares the `red asymmetry' appears in the Halpha emission line indicating the infall of hot condensed matter into the chromosphere with velocities greater than 100 km/s disturbing chromospheric layers. As a result, the strength of the Ca II lines anti-correlates with Halpha during strong flares. The He I lines at 4026 and 5876 A appear in the strong flares. The cores of D1 and D2 Na I lines are also seen in emission. During the minimum activity of Proxima Centauri, Ca II lines and Hepsilon almost disappear while the blue part of the Na I emission lines is affected by the absorption in the extending and condensing flows. Conclusions. We see different behaviour of emission lines formed in the flare regions and chromosphere. Chromosphere layers of Proxima Cen are likely heated by the flare events; these layers are cooled in the `non-flare' mode. The self-absorption structures in cores of our emission lines vary with time due to the presence of a complicated system of inward and outward matter flows in the absorbing layers.

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arXiv2019

The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs: Different roads to radii and masses of the target stars

We determine the radii and masses of 293 nearby, bright M dwarfs of the CARMENES survey. This is the first time that such a large and homogeneous high-resolution (R>80 000) spectroscopic survey has been used to derive these fundamental stellar parameters. We derived the radii using Stefan-Boltzmann's law. We obtained the required effective temperatures $T_{\rm eff}$ from a spectral analysis and we obtained the required luminosities L from integrated broadband photometry together with the Gaia DR2 parallaxes. The mass was then determined using a mass-radius relation that we derived from eclipsing binaries known in the literature. We compared this method with three other methods: (1) We calculated the mass from the radius and the surface gravity log g, which was obtained from the same spectral analysis as $T_{\rm eff}$. (2) We used a widely used infrared mass-magnitude relation. (3) We used a Bayesian approach to infer stellar parameters from the comparison of the absolute magnitudes and colors of our targets with evolutionary models. Between spectral types M0V and M7V our radii cover the range $0.1\,R_{\normalsize\odot}<R<0.6\,R_{\normalsize\odot}$ with an error of 2-3% and our masses cover $0.09\,{\mathcal M}_{\normalsize\odot}<{\mathcal M}<0.6\,{\mathcal M}_{\normalsize\odot}$ with an error of 3-5%. We find good agreement between the masses determined with these different methods for most of our targets. Only the masses of very young objects show discrepancies. This can be well explained with the assumptions that we used for our methods.

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arXiv2018

CARMENES input catalogue of M dwarfs IV. New rotation periods from photometric time series

Aims. The main goal of this work is to measure rotation periods of the M-type dwarf stars being observed by the CARMENES exoplanet survey to help distinguish radial-velocity signals produced by magnetic activity from those produced by exoplanets. Rotation periods are also fundamental for a detailed study of the relation between activity and rotation in late-type stars. Methods. We look for significant periodic signals in 622 photometric time series of 337 bright, nearby M dwarfs obtained by long-time baseline, automated surveys (MEarth, ASAS, SuperWASP, NSVS, Catalina, ASAS-SN, K2, and HATNet) and for 20 stars which we obtained with four 0.2-0.8 m telescopes at high geographical latitudes. Results. We present 142 rotation periods (73 new) from 0.12 d to 133 d and ten long-term activity cycles (six new) from 3.0 a to 11.5 a. We compare our determinations with those in the existing literature; we investigate the distribution of P rot in the CARMENES input catalogue,the amplitude of photometric variability, and their relation to vsin i and pEW(Halfa); and we identify three very active stars with new rotation periods between 0.34 d and 23.6 d.

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arXiv2018

The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs - Photospheric parameters of target stars from high-resolution spectroscopy

The new CARMENES instrument comprises two high-resolution and high-stability spectrographs that are used to search for habitable planets around M dwarfs in the visible and near-infrared regime via the Doppler technique. Characterising our target sample is important for constraining the physical properties of any planetary systems that are detected. The aim of this paper is to determine the fundamental stellar parameters of the CARMENES M-dwarf target sample from high-resolution spectra observed with CARMENES. We also include several M-dwarf spectra observed with other high-resolution spectrographs, that is CAFE, FEROS, and HRS, for completeness. We used a {chi}^2 method to derive the stellar parameters effective temperature T_eff, surface gravity log g, and metallicity [Fe/H] of the target stars by fitting the most recent version of the PHOENIX-ACES models to high-resolution spectroscopic data. These stellar atmosphere models incorporate a new equation of state to describe spectral features of low-temperature stellar atmospheres. Since T_eff, log g, and [Fe/H] show degeneracies, the surface gravity is determined independently using stellar evolutionary models. We derive the stellar parameters for a total of 300 stars. The fits achieve very good agreement between the PHOENIX models and observed spectra. We estimate that our method provides parameters with uncertainties of {sigma} T_eff = 51 K, {sigma} log g = 0.07, and {sigma} [Fe/H] = 0.16, and show that atmosphere models for low-mass stars have significantly improved in the last years. Our work also provides an independent test of the new PHOENIX-ACES models, and a comparison for other methods using low-resolution spectra. In particular, our effective temperatures agree well with literature values, while metallicities determined with our method exhibit a larger spread when compared to literature results.

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arXiv2017

The optical+infrared L dwarf spectral sequence of young planetary-mass objects in the Upper Scorpius association

We present the results of photometric and spectroscopic follow-ups of the lowest mass member candidates in the nearest OB association, Upper Scorpius (5-10 Myr; 145+/-17 pc), with the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GTC) and European Southern Observatory (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT). We confirm the membership of the large majority (>80%) of the candidates selected originally photometrically and astrometrically based on their spectroscopic features, weak equivalent widths of gravity-sensitive doublets, and radial velocities. Confirmed members follow a sequence over a wide magnitude range (J=17.0-19.3 mag) in several colour-magnitude diagrams with optical, near-, and mid-infrared photometry, and have near-infrared spectral types in the L1-L7 interval with likely masses below 15 Jupiter masses. We find that optical spectral types tend to be earlier than near-infrared spectral types by a few subclasses for spectral types later than M9. We investigate the behaviour of spectral indices defined in the literature as a function of spectral type and gravity by comparison with values reported in the literature for young and old dwarfs. We also derive effective temperatures in the 1900-1600K from fits of synthetic model-atmosphere spectra to the observed photometry but we caution the procedure carries large uncertainties. We determine bolometric corrections for young L dwarfs with ages of ~5-10 Myr (Upper Sco association) and find them similar in the J-band but larger by 0.1-0.4 mag in the K-band with respect to field L dwarfs. Finally, we discovered two faint young L dwarfs, VISTAJ1607-2146 (L4.5) and VISTAJ1611-2215 (L5) that have H$α$ emission and possible flux excesses at 4.5 microns, pointing towards the presence of accretion from a disk onto the central objects of mass below ~15 Jupiter masses at the age of 5-10 Myr.

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arXiv2017

Flare activity and photospheric analysis of Proxima Centauri

We present the analysis of emission lines in high-resolution optical spectra of the planet-host star Proxima Centauri (Proxima) classified as a M5.5V\@. We carry out the detailed analysis of observed spectra to get a better understanding of the physical conditions of the atmosphere of this star. We identify the emission lines in a serie series of 147 high-resolution optical spectra of the star at different levels of activity and compare them with the synthetic spectra computed over a wide spectral range. Our synthetic spectra computed with the PHOENIX 2900/5.0/0.0 model atmosphere fits pretty well the observed optical-to-near-infrared spectral energy distribution. However, modelling strong atomic lines in the blue spectrum (3900--4200Å) requires implementing additional opacity. We show that high temperature layers in Proxima Centauri consist in at least three emitting parts: a) a stellar chromosphere where numerous emission lines form. We suggest that some emission cores of strong absorption lines of metals form there; b) flare regions above the chromosphere, where hydrogen Balmer lines up to high transition levels (10--2) form; c) a stellar wind component with V${r}$\,=\,$-$30 \kmps{} seen in some Balmer lines as blue shifted emission lines. We believe that the observed He line at 4026Å in emission can be formed in that very hot region. We show, that real structure of the atmosphere of Proxima is rather complicated. The photosphere of the star is best fit by a normal M5 dwarf spectrum. On the other hand emission lines form in the chromosphere, flare regions and extended hot envelope.

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arXiv2016

CARMENES input catalogue of M dwarfs II. High-resolution imaging with FastCam

Aims: We search for low-mass companions of M dwarfs and characterize their multiplicity fraction with the purpose of helping in the selection of the most appropriate targets for the CARMENES exoplanet survey. Methods: We obtained high-resolution images in the I band with the lucky imaging instrument FastCam at the 1.5 m Telescopio Carlos Sanchez for 490 mid- to late-M dwarfs. For all the detected binaries, we measured angular separations, position angles, and magnitude differences in the I band. We also calculated the masses of each individual component and estimated orbital periods, using the available magnitude and colour relations for M dwarfs and our own MJ-spectral type and mass-MI relations. To avoid biases in our sample selection, we built a volume-limited sample of M0.0-M5.0 dwarfs that is complete up to 86% within 14 pc. Results: From the 490 observed stars, we detected 80 companions in 76 systems, of which 30 are new discoveries. The multiplicity fraction in our observed sample is 16.7+-2.0% . In our volume-limited sample it is 19.5+-2.3% for angular separations of 0.2 to 5.0 arcsec (1.4-65.6 au), The distribution of the projected physical separations peaks at 2.5-7.5 au. For M0.0-M3.5 V primaries, our search is sensitive to mass ratios higher than 0.3. Binaries with projected physical separations shorter than 50 au tend to be of equal mass. For 26 of our systems, we estimated orbital periods shorter than 50 a, 10 of which are presented here for the first time. We measured variations in angular separation and position angle that are due to orbital motions in 17 of these systems. The contribution of binaries and multiples with angular separations shorter than 0.2 arcsec, longer than 5.0 arcsec, and of spectroscopic binaries identified from previous searches, although not complete, may increase the multiplicity fraction of M dwarfs in our volume-limited sample to at least 36%.

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arXiv2015

An eclipsing double-line spectroscopic binary at the stellar/substellar boundary in the Upper Scorpius OB association

We aim at constraining evolutionary models at low mass and young ages by identifying interesting transiting system members of the nearest OB association to the Sun, Upper Scorpius, targeted by the Kepler mission. We produced light curves for M dwarf members of the USco region surveyed during the second campaign of the Kepler K2 mission. We identified 'by eye' a transiting system, UScoJ161630.68-251220.1 (=EPIC203710387) with a combined spectral type of M5.25 whose photometric, astrometric, and spectroscopic properties makes it a member of USco. We conducted an extensive photometric and spectroscopic follow-up of this transiting system with a suite of telescopes and instruments to characterise the properties of each component of the system. We calculated a transit duration of about 2.42 hours occuring every 2.88 days with a slight difference in transit depth and phase between the two components. We estimated a mass ratio of 0.922+/-0.015 from the semi-amplitudes of the radial velocity curves for each component. We derived masses of 0.091+/-0.005 Msun and 0.084+/-0.004 Msun,radii of 0.388+/-0.008 Rsun and 0.380+/-0.008 Rsun, luminosities of log(L/Lsun)=-2.020 (-0.121+0.099) dex and -2.032 (-0.121+0.099) dex, and effective temperatures of 2901 (-172+199) K and 2908 (-172+199) K for the primary and secondary, respectively. We present a complete photometric and radial velocity characterisation of the least massive double-line eclipsing binary system in the young USco association with two components close to the stellar/substellar limit. This system fills in a gap between the least massive eclipsing binaries in the low-mass and substellar regimes at young ages and represents an important addition to constrain evolutionary models at young ages.

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