Near-infrared Linear Polarization of Ultracool Dwarfs

Details Near-infrared Linear Polarization of Ultracool Dwarfs Near-infrared Linear Polarization of Ultracool Dwarfs

2011-07-13

arxiv.org/abs/1107.2498v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

We report on near-infrared J- and H-band linear polarimetric photometry of eight ultracool dwarfs (two late-M, five L0-L7.5, and one T2.5) with known evidence for photometric variability due to dust clouds, anomalous red infrared colors, or low-gravity atmospheres. The polarimetric data were acquired with the LIRIS instrument on the William Herschel Telescope. We also provide mid-infrared photometry in the interval 3.4-24 micron for some targets obtained with Spitzer and WISE, which has allowed us to confirm the peculiar red colors of five sources in the sample. We can impose modest upper limits of 0.9% and 1.8% on the linear polarization degree for seven targets with a confidence of 99%. Only one source, 2MAS, J02411151-0326587 (L0), appears to be strongly polarized (P ~ 3%) in the J-band with a significance level of P/sigma_P ~ 10. The likely origin of its linearly polarized light and rather red infrared colors may reside in a surrounding disk with an asymmetric distribution of grains. Given its proximity (66 +/- 8 pc), this object becomes an excellent target for the direct detection of the disk.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Near-infrared Linear Polarization of Ultracool Dwarfs does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Near-infrared Linear Polarization of Ultracool Dwarfs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Near-infrared Linear Polarization of Ultracool Dwarfs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-165400