English

WISE J061213.85-303612.5: a new T-dwarf binary candidate

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 2015-05-27 v2

Abstract

T and Y-dwarfs are among the coolest and least luminous objects detected, and they can help to understand the properties of giant planets. Their multiplicity properties can shed light on the formation process. We observed a sample six T dwarfs and one L9 dwarf with the Laser Guide Star (LGS) and NAOS-CONICA, the adaptive optics (AO) facility, and the near infrared camera at the ESO Very Large Telescope. From the seven observed objects, we have identified a subarcsecond binary system, WISE J0612-3036, composed of two similar components with spectral types of T6. We measure a separation of ρ\rho = 350±\pm5 mas and a position angle of PA=235±1PA = 235\pm1^{\circ}. Using the mean absolute magnitudes of T6 dwarfs in the 2MASS JHKsJHK_s bands, we estimate a distance of dd=31±\pm6 pc and derive a projected separation of ρ\rho = 11±\pm2 au. Another target, WISE J2255-3118, shows a very faint object at 1.3 arcsec in the KsK_{\rm s} image. The object is marginally detected in HH, and we derive a near infrared color of HKsH-K_{\rm s}>> 0.1\,mag. HST/WFC3HST/WFC3 public archival data reveals that the companion candidate is an extended source.Together with the derived color, this suggests that the source is most probably a background galaxy. The five other sources are apparently single, with 3-σ\sigma sensitivity limits between HH=19-21 for companions at separations \geq 0.5 arcsec. WISE 0612-3036 is probably a new T-dwarf binary composed of two T6 dwarfs. As in the case of other late T-dwarf binaries, it shows a mass ratio close to 1, although its projected separation, \sim11 au, is larger than the average (\sim 5 au). Additional observations are needed to confirm that the system is bound.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1504.03150,
  title  = {WISE J061213.85-303612.5: a new T-dwarf binary candidate},
  author = {N. Huélamo and V. D. Ivanov and R. Kurtev and J. H. Girard and J. Borissova and D. Mawet and K. Muzic and C. Cáceres and C. H. F. Melo and M. F. Sterzik and D. Minniti},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1504.03150},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

8 pages, 7 figures, A&A, matches published version

R2 v1 2026-06-22T09:15:02.334Z