L-dwarf variability: Magnetic star spots or non-uniform clouds?

Details L-dwarf variability: Magnetic star spots or non-uniform clouds? L-dwarf variability: Magnetic star spots or non-uniform clouds?

2001-06-04

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0106062v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

submitted to ApJL, 13 pages, 2 figures

Scientific paper

The recent discovery of photometric variations in L dwarfs has opened a discussion on the cause of the variations. We argue against the existence of magnetic spots in these atmospheres and favor the idea that non-uniform condensate coverage (i.e. clouds) is responsible for the variations. The magnetic Reynolds number (Rm) in the atmosphere of L dwarfs, which describes how well the gas couples with the magnetic field, is too small (<<1) to support the formation of magnetic spots. In constrast silicate and iron clouds form in the photospheres of L dwarfs. Inhomogeneities in such cloud decks can plausibly produce the observed photometric variations. Further evidence in support of clouds is the tendency for variable L dwarfs to be bluer in J-Ks than the average L dwarf of a given spectral type. This color effect is expected if clear holes appear in an otherwise uniform cloud layer.

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