Program: GN-2012A-Q-106

Title:Far-Red/Infrared Photometry of Proposed Y Dwarfs
PI:Sandy Leggett
Co-I(s): Mark Marley, Didier Saumon

Abstract

The first proposed cold Y dwarfs have been discovered in the mid-infrared by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The six objects have extremely red [3.4]-[4.6] colors, and followup near-infrared spectroscopy by the WISE team show very strong absorption bands due to CH_4 and H_2O, as well as probable NH_3 absorption. Some J and H photometry was obtained for the candidate Y dwarfs by the WISE team, we propose to supplement and improve on these data by obtaining zYJHK (or a subset) for the sample. The dwarfs have T_eff of ~300-500K, corresponding to masses of 5-20 Jupiters for an assumed age range of 1-10 Gyr. Our models indicate that dramatic changes occur in the far-red/near-infrared colors of brown dwarfs over this temperature range, and accurate photometry will enable a better understanding of such cold atmospheres, as well as allow more such objects to be found by ground-based surveys such as Pan-Starrs, VISTA, and LSST.

Publications using this program's data