A MONITORING CAMPAIGN FOR LUHMAN 16AB. I. DETECTION OF RESOLVED NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC VARIABILITY

We report resolved near-infrared spectroscopic monitoring of the nearby L dwarf/T dwarf binary WISE J104915.57-531906.1 AB (Luhman 16AB), as part of a broader campaign to characterize the spectral energy distribution and temporal variability of this system. A continuous 45 minute sequence of low-res...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2014-04, Vol.785 (1), p.1-10
Main Authors: Burgasser, Adam J, Gillon, Michael, Faherty, Jacqueline K, Radigan, Jacqueline, TRIAUD, AMAURY H M J, PLAVCHAN, PETER, Street, Rachel, Jehin, E, Delrez, L, OPITOM, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AMPLITUDES
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
Aérospatiale, astronomie & astrophysique
BRIGHTNESS
Brightness temperature
COLOR
CORRELATIONS
COVERINGS
DETECTION
ENERGY SPECTRA
Estimates
EVOLUTION
Flux
LAYERS
MASS
Monitoring
OPACITY
PHOTOMETRY
Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences
Physique, chimie, mathématiques & sciences de la terre
RESOLUTION
ROTATION
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Spectral energy distribution
Spectroscopy
STARS
Temporal logic
VISIBLE RADIATION
WAVELENGTHS
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Summary:We report resolved near-infrared spectroscopic monitoring of the nearby L dwarf/T dwarf binary WISE J104915.57-531906.1 AB (Luhman 16AB), as part of a broader campaign to characterize the spectral energy distribution and temporal variability of this system. A continuous 45 minute sequence of low-resolution IRTF/SpeX data spanning 0.8-2.4 mu m were obtained, concurrent with combined-light optical photometry with ESO/ TRAPPIST. We estimate a peak-to-peak amplitude of 13.5% at 1.25 mu m over the full light curve. Using a simple two-spot brightness temperature model for Luhman 16B, we infer an average cold covering fraction of approximately 30%-55%, varying by 15%-30% over a rotation period assuming a approximately 200-400 K difference between hot and cold regions. The strong variability observed in this flux reversal brown dwarf pair supports the model of a patchy disruption of the mineral cloud layer as a universal feature of the L dwarf/T dwarf transition.
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/48