English

MINDS. Cha H{\alpha} 1, a brown dwarf with a hydrocarbon-rich disk

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 2025-11-05 v1 Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Abstract

Context. Recent JWST observations have shown that brown dwarfs (BD) are chemically rich, offering valuable insights into giant planet formation. Aims. As part of the MIRI mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS) JWST guaranteed time program, we aim to characterize the gas and dust composition of the disk around the brown dwarf [NC98] Cha HA 1, hereafter Cha Hα\alpha 1, in the mid-infrared. Methods. We obtain data from the MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MRS) from 4.9 to 28μ\mum. We use the dust fitting tool DuCK to investigate the dust composition and grain sizes while we identify and fit molecular emission using slab models. Results. Compared with disks around very low mass stars, clear silicate emission features are seen in this BD disk. In addition, JWST reveals a plethora of hydrocarbons, including C2_2H2_2, 13^{13}CCH2_2, CH3_3, CH4_4, C2_2H4_4, C4_4H2_2, C3_3H4_4, C2_2H6_6, and C6_6H6_6 which suggest a disk with a gas C/O > 1. Additionally, we detect CO2_2, 13^{13}CO2_2, HCN, H2_2, and H2_2O. CO and OH are absent from the spectrum. The dust is dominated by large \sim4 μ\mum size amorphous silicates (MgSiO3_3). We infer a small dust mass fraction (>>10%\%) of 5 μ\mum size crystalline forsterite. We do not detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Conclusions. Cha Hα\alpha 1 shows the most diverse chemistry seen to date in a BD protoplanetary disk, consisting of a strong dust feature, 12 carbon-bearing molecules plus H2_2, and water. The diverse molecular environment offers a unique opportunity to test our understanding of BD disks chemistry and how it affects the possible planets forming in them.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2508.05155,
  title  = {MINDS. Cha H{\alpha} 1, a brown dwarf with a hydrocarbon-rich disk},
  author = {María Morales-Calderón and Hyerin Jang and Aditya M. Arabhavi and Valentin Christiaens and David Barrado and Inga Kamp and Ewine F. van Dishoeck and Thomas Henning and L. B. F. M. Waters and Milou Temmink and Manuel Güdel and Pierre-Olivier Lagage and Alessio Caratti o Garatti and Adrian M. Glauser and Tom P. Ray and Riccardo Franceschi and Danny Gasman and Sierra L. Grant and Till Kaeufer and Jayatee Kanwar and Giulia Perotti and Matthias Samland and Kamber Schwarz and Marissa Vlasblom and Luis Colina and Göran Östlin},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.05155},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

16 pages, 14 figures