Program: GS-2007A-Q-28

Title:Spectroscopic follow-up of high proper motion brown dwarf candidates
PI:Rene Doyon
Co-I(s): Etienne Artigau, David Lafreniere, Jasmin Robert, Loic Albert, Daniel Nadeau

Abstract

We have recently undertaken the Infrared Proper Motion Survey (IPMS) to identify new solar neighborhood BDs through their large proper motion (PM). Observation are made at the CTIO 1.5m telescope with the CPAPIR wide-field (35'x35') near-IR camera. The 2MASS database is used as a first epoch to calculate PMs. So far, the survey has covered ~15% of the sky and a few hundreds new L and T dwarf candidates have been identified, including the discovery of the brightest T dwarf in the northern hemisphere. IMPS will unveil a unique sample of nearby relatively bright BDs that will likely become prime targets for detailed follow-up characterization work. This proposal is to secure GNIRS JHK spectroscopy of 75 IMPS BD candidates available this semester, including 12 likely early-Ts. These data will be used to determine their spectral type, effective temperature, gravity and metallicity. This proposal is part of long term program to improve the census of solar neighborhood BDs and determine their fundamental properties. This will impact several fields of sub-stellar astrophysics, from evolutionary/atmosphere modelling to formation mechanism of BDs and generate several new BD-related scientific programs.

Publications using this program's data