Discovery of a Very Young Field L Dwarf, 2MASS J01415823-4633574

Details Discovery of a Very Young Field L Dwarf, 2MASS J01415823-4633574 Discovery of a Very Young Field L Dwarf, 2MASS J01415823-4633574

2005-11-15

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0511462v1

Astrophys.J.639:1120-1128,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted for publication in the 10 March 2006 issue (volume 639) of the Astrophysical Journal

Scientific paper

10.1086/499622

While following up L dwarf candidates selected photometrically from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, we uncovered an unusual object designated 2MASS J01415823-4633574. Its optical spectrum exhibits very strong bands of vanadium oxide but abnormally weak absorptions by titanium oxide, potassium, and sodium. Morphologically such spectroscopic characteristics fall intermediate between old, field early-L dwarfs (log(g)~5) and very late M giants (log(g)~0), leading us to favor low gravity as the explanation for the unique spectral signatures of this L dwarf. Such a low gravity can be explained only if this L dwarf is much lower in mass than a typical old field L dwarf of similar temperature and is still contracting to its final radius. These conditions imply a very young age. Further evidence of youth is found in the near-infrared spectrum, including a triangular-shaped H-band continuum reminiscent of young brown dwarf candidates discovered in the Orion Nebula Cluster. Using the above information along with comparisons to brown dwarf atmospheric and interior models, our current best estimate is that this L dwarf has an age of 1-50 Myr and a mass of 6-25 M_Jupiter. The location of 2MASS 0141-4633 on the sky coupled with a distance estimate of ~35 pc and the above age estimate suggests that this object may be a brown dwarf member of either the 30-Myr-old Tucana/Horologium Association or the ~12-Myr-old beta Pic Moving Group.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Discovery of a Very Young Field L Dwarf, 2MASS J01415823-4633574 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 Discovery of a Very Young Field L Dwarf, 2MASS J01415823-4633574, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Discovery of a Very Young Field L Dwarf, 2MASS J01415823-4633574 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-580360