Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Nov 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010hia....15..761c&link_type=abstract
Highlights of Astronomy, Volume 15, p. 761-761
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Binary brown dwarfs are important because their dynamical masses can be determined in a model-independent way. If a main sequence star is also involved, the age and metallicity for the system can be determined, making it possible to break the sub-stellar mass-age degeneracy. The most suitable benchmark system for intermediate age T dwarfs is ɛ Indi Ba,b, two T dwarfs (spectral types T1 and T6; McCaughrean et al. (2004)) orbiting a K4.5V star, ɛ Indi A, at a projected separation of 1460AU. At a distance of 3.6224pc (HIPPARCOS distance to ɛ Indi A; van Leeuwen (2007)), these are the closest brown dwarfs to the Earth, and thus both components are bright and the system is well-resolved. The system has been monitored astrometrically with NACO and FORS2 on the VLT since June 2004 and August 2005, respectively, in order to determine the system and individual masses independent of evolutionary models. We have obtained a preliminary system mass of 121±1MJup. We have also analysed optical/near-IR spectra (0.6-5.0μm at a resolution up to R~5000; King et al. (2009)) allowing us to determine bolometric luminosities, compare and calibrate evolutionary and atmospheric models of T dwarfs at an age of 4-8Gyr.
Brandner Wolfgang
Cardoso C. V.
Close Laird M.
King Richard R.
Koehler Rainer
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