Aaron Meisner: Exploring the Extremes: a New Population of Old and Cold Brown Dwarfs
Tuesday, 14 March 2023 2 p.m. — 3 p.m. MST
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Gemini North Hilo Base Facility | 670 N A’ohoku Place Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Cold brown dwarfs provide unique insights about the low mass terminus of star formation and giant exoplanet atmospheres. However, for the coolest substellar spectral classes (T and Y dwarfs, Teff < 1400 K), little is known about the metallicity dependence of either their atmospheric properties or prevalence. Recently, a new population of cold (Teff < 1400 K), low-metallicity ([M/H] ≤ -1 dex), kinematically extreme brown dwarfs with anomalous spectra has been identified. Limited photometry or spectroscopy exists for this very faint and red sample. Here we present the results of a follow-up near-infrared (YJHK/Ks) photometry campaign using Flamingos-2 at Gemini South and GNIRS at Gemini North, targeting candidate old/cold brown dwarfs. Our deep Gemini photometry allows us to constrain vital physical parameters such as temperature and metallicity, and to prepare/prioritize for future Gemini near-infrared spectroscopy. Particularly in the post-Spitzer era, Gemini represents a crucial follow-up resource for revealing the coldest, lowest metallicity brown dwarfs.
For Zoom connection information, please contact Emanuele Paolo Farina (emanuele.farina_at_noirlab.edu).
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