Infrared Photometry of β Pictoris Type Systems

• Published in: The Astronomical journal 1998-05, Vol.115 (5), p.2101-2121
• Main Authors: Fajardo-Acosta, S. B, Telesco, C. M, Knacke, R. F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1538-3881; 0004-6256; 1538-3881
• DOI: 10.1086/300323

We obtained small-aperture infrared photometry of 10 early-type main-sequence stars with infrared excesses from circumstellar dust. These systems possibly exemplify the Pictoris phenomenon. We observed them with either the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center bolometer array camera or the Infrared Telescope Facility 230 m single-channel bolometer system. Measurements were obtained in the KLMNQ filters and the narrowband 10 micron 'silicate' filters. We fitted Kurucz photospheric models to the photometric data to determine excess-emission spectra. We report the nondetection of small-aperture circumstellar dust emission from HR 10 and 21 LMi. We confirmed previous nondetections of NIR or 10 micron excess emission from 68 Oph, PsA, and HR 4796A. We did not detect prominent silicate emission from any of the sources. The spectra of Oph, Her, HR 2174A, UMa, and Lep show weak 10 micron excesses. We fitted simple models to these data, together with IRAS excess fluxes, to determine plausible distributions of temperature and density of circumstellar dust grains. Significant quantities of these grains around HR 2174A, zeta Lep, and beta UMa are at temperatures similar to terrestrial material in the solar system. (Author)