Related papers: AB Doradus C: Age, Spectral Type, Orbit, and Compa…

Astrometric observations of resolved binaries provide estimates of orbital periods and will eventually lead to measurement of dynamical masses. Only a few very low mass star and brown dwarf masses have been measured to date, and the…

We present a CCD-based photometric survey covering 870 sq. arcmin in a young stellar cluster around the young multiple star sigma Orionis. Our survey limiting R, I, and Z magnitudes are 23.2, 21.8, and 21.0, respectively. From our…

We present new models for low-mass stars down to the hydrogen-burning limit that consistently couple atmosphere and interior structures, thereby superseding the widely used BCAH98 models. The new models include updated molecular linelists…

Forty new low mass members with spectral types ranging from M4-M9 have been confirmed in the Orion Molecular Cloud 2/3 region. Through deep, I, z', J, H, K photometry of a 20' x 20' field in OMC 2/3, we selected brown dwarf candidates for…

This chapter aims at providing the most complete review of both the emerging concepts and the latest observational results regarding the angular momentum evolution of young low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. In the time since Protostars &…

In near-infrared NaCo observations of the young brown dwarf 2MASS J0041353-562112, we discovered a companion a little less than a magnitude fainter than the primary. The binary candidate has a separation of 143 mas, the spectral types are…

An optical spectrum of the Elson et al. (1998) candidate luminous white dwarf in the young LMC cluster NGC1818 shows conclusively that it is not a degenerate star. A model atmosphere fit gives T=31,500K and log g=4.4, typical of a…

I present new results from a continuing program to identify and characterize the low-mass stellar and substellar populations in the young cluster IC 348 (1-10~Myr). Optical spectroscopy has revealed young objects with spectral types as late…

[abridged] We have assembled a database of stars having both masses determined from measured orbital dynamics and sufficient spectral and photometric information for their placement on a theoretical HR diagram. Our sample consists of 115…

We combine optical, near-infrared and mid-infrared spectra and photometry to construct expanded spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for 145 field age (\textgreater 500 Myr) and 53 young (lower age estimate \textless 500 Myr) ultracool…

We observe 14 young low-mass substellar objects in young moving groups using the SINFONI IFS with LGS-AO to detect and characterize 3 candidate binary systems. Together with the adopted young moving group ages we employ isochrones from…

We present the results of photometric and spectroscopic follow-ups of the lowest mass member candidates in the nearest OB association, Upper Scorpius (5-10 Myr; 145+/-17 pc), with the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GTC) and European Southern…

Although mid-to-late type M dwarfs are the most common stars in our stellar neighborhood, our knowledge of these objects is still limited. Open questions include the evolution of their angular momentum, internal structures, dust settling in…

The LHS 6343 system consists of a resolved M-dwarf binary with an evolved, negligibly irradiated brown dwarf, LHS 6343 C, orbiting the primary star. Such brown dwarf eclipsing binaries present rare and unique opportunities to calibrate…

We present the discovery of a candidate substellar companion from a survey of nearby, young stars with the NICMOS coronagraph on the Hubble Space Telescope. The H ~ 12 mag object was discovered approximately 4" from the young A0V star HR…

The survey of the mid-infrared sky by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) led to the discovery of extremely cold low-mass brown dwarfs, classified as Y dwarfs, which extend the T class to lower temperatures. Twenty-four Y dwarfs…

AA Dor (LB 3459) is an eclipsing, close binary (P = 0.26d) consisting of a sdOB primary star and an unseen secondary with an extraordinary small mass. The secondary is possibly a former planet which may have survived a common-envelope phase…

We present a near-infrared spectrum of the close, detached white dwarf + brown dwarf binary WD0137-349 (Maxted et al 2006), that directly reveals the substellar companion through an excess of flux longwards of 1.95 microns. We best match…

Upon its discovery in 2006, the young L7.5 companion to the solar analog HD 203030 was found to be unusual in being $\approx$200 K cooler than older late-L dwarfs. HD 203030B offered the first clear indication that the effective temperature…

By comparing near-infrared spectra with atmosphere models, we infer the effective temperature, surface gravity, projected rotational velocity, and radial velocity for 21 very-low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. The unique sample consists of…