DISCOVERY OF A WIDE PLANETARY-MASS COMPANION TO THE YOUNG M3 STAR GU PSC

We present the discovery of a comoving planetary-mass companion ~42" (~2000 AU) from a young M3 star, GU Psc, a likely member of the young AB Doradus Moving Group (ABDMG). The companion was first identified via its distinctively red i-z color (>3.5) through a survey made with Gemini-S/GMOS....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2014-05, Vol.787 (1), p.1-16
Main Authors: Naud, Marie-Eve, ARTIGAU, ETIENNE, Malo, Lison, Albert, Loic, Doyon, Rene, Lafreniere, David, Gagne, Jonathan, Saumon, Didier, Morley, Caroline V, Allard, France, Homeier, Derek, Beichman, Charles A, GELINO, CHRISTOPHER R, Boucher, Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ATMOSPHERES
COLOR
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DETECTION
EVOLUTION
GRAVITATION
Infrared
INFRARED SURVEYS
MASS
NEAR INFRARED RADIATION
OPTICS
PHOTOMETRY
PLANETS
SATELLITES
Spectra
STARS
Stellar age
TELESCOPES
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We present the discovery of a comoving planetary-mass companion ~42" (~2000 AU) from a young M3 star, GU Psc, a likely member of the young AB Doradus Moving Group (ABDMG). The companion was first identified via its distinctively red i-z color (>3.5) through a survey made with Gemini-S/GMOS. Follow-up Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope/WIRCam near-infrared (NIR) imaging, Gemini-N/GNIRS NIR spectroscopy and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry indicate a spectral type of T3.5 + or - 1 and reveal signs of low gravity which we attribute to youth. Keck/Adaptive Optics NIR observations did not resolve the companion as a binary. A comparison with atmosphere models indicates T sub(eff) = 1000-1100 K and log g = 4.5-5.0. Based on evolution models, this temperature corresponds to a mass of 9-13 M sub(Jup) for the age of ABDMG (70-130 Myr). The relatively well-constrained age of this companion and its very large angular separation to its host star will allow its thorough characterization and will make it a valuable comparison for planetary-mass companions that will be uncovered by forthcoming planet-finder instruments such as Gemini Planet Imager and SPHERE.
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/787/1/5