Sign on

SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service

· Find Similar Abstracts (with default settings below)
· Electronic Refereed Journal Article (HTML)
· Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
· arXiv e-print (arXiv:astro-ph/0508043)
· References in the article
· Citations to the Article (16) (Citation History)
· Refereed Citations to the Article
· SIMBAD Objects (4)
· Also-Read Articles (Reads History)
·
· Translate This Page
Title:
Discovery of a Magnetic White Dwarf/Probable Brown Dwarf Short-Period Binary
Authors:
Schmidt, Gary D.; Szkody, Paula; Silvestri, Nicole M.; Cushing, Michael C.; Liebert, James; Smith, Paul S.
Affiliation:
AA(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; , , , .), AB(Department of Astronomy, University of Washington, Box 351580, Seattle, WA 98195-1580 , .), AC(Department of Astronomy, University of Washington, Box 351580, Seattle, WA 98195-1580 , .), AD(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; , , , .; Spitzer Fellow.), AE(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; , , , .), AF(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; , , , .)
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 630, Issue 2, pp. L173-L176. (ApJL Homepage)
Publication Date:
09/2005
Origin:
UCP
ApJ Keywords:
Stars: Binaries: Close, Magnetic Fields, stars: individual (SDSS J121209.31+013627.7), Stars: Low-Mass, Brown Dwarfs
DOI:
10.1086/491702
Bibliographic Code:
2005ApJ...630L.173S

Abstract

The magnetic white dwarf SDSS J121209.31+013627.7 exhibits a weak, narrow Hα emission line whose radial velocity and strength are modulated on a period of ~90 minutes. Though indicative of irradiation on a nearby companion, no cool continuum component is evident in the optical spectrum, and IR photometry limits the absolute magnitude of the companion to MJ>13.37. This is equivalent to an isolated L5 dwarf, with Teff<1700 K. Consideration of possible evolutionary histories suggests that, until ~0.6 Gyr ago, the brown dwarf orbited a ~1.5 Msolar main-sequence star with P~1 yr and a~1 AU, thus resembling many of the gaseous superplanets being found in extrasolar planet searches. Common-envelope evolution when the massive star left the main sequence reduced the period to only a few hours, and ensuing angular momentum loss has further degraded the orbit. The binary is ripe for additional observations aimed at better studying brown dwarfs and the effects of irradiation on their structure.

Based in part on observations with the Apache Point Observatory 3.5 m telescope and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which are owned and operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC).

Bibtex entry for this abstract   Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences)
   

Find Similar Abstracts:

Use: Authors
Title
Keywords (in text query field)
Abstract Text
Return: Query Results Return    items starting with number
Query Form
Database: Astronomy
Physics
arXiv e-prints