Spectral Type M5 Research Articles

Ultracool Dwarf Absolute Magnitude Versus Spectral Type Relations for Euclid and Roman Near-infrared Filters

We synthesize Euclid Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer photometry for the Y E J E H E filters and Roman Wide Field Instrument photometry for the F106, F129, F146, F158, F184 and F213 filters using SpeX prism spectra and parallaxes of 688 field-age and 151 young (≲200 Myr) ultracool dwarfs (spectral types M6–T9). For the above filters, we derive empirical absolute magnitude-spectral type polynomial relations that enable the calculation of photometric distances for ultracool dwarfs to be observed with Euclid and Roman, in the absence of parallax measurements. The synthesized photometry can also be used to generate color–color figures to distinguish high-redshift galaxies from brown dwarf interlopers.

Radio emission as a stellar activity indicator

Radio observations of stars trace the plasma conditions and magnetic field properties of stellar magnetospheres and coronae. Depending on the plasma conditions at the emitter site, radio emission in the metre- and decimetre-wave bands is generated via different mechanisms, such as gyrosynchrotron, electron cyclotron maser instability, and plasma radiation processes. The ongoing LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) and VLA Sky Survey (VLASS) are currently the most sensitive wide-field radio sky surveys ever conducted. Because these surveys are untargeted, they provide an opportunity to study the statistical properties of the radio-emitting stellar population in an unbiased manner. Here we perform an untargeted search for stellar radio sources down to sub-mJy level using these radio surveys. We find that the population of radio-emitting stellar systems is mainly composed of two distinct categories: chromospherically active stellar (CAS) systems and M dwarfs. We also seek to identify signatures of a gradual transition within the M-dwarf population, from chromospheric or coronal acceleration close to the stellar surface similar to that observed on the Sun to magnetospheric acceleration occurring far from the stellar surface similar to that observed on Jupiter. We determine that radio detectability evolves with spectral type, and we identify a transition in radio detectability around spectral type M4, where stars become fully convective. Furthermore, we compare the radio detectability versus spectra type with X-ray and optical flare (observed by TESS) incidence statistics. We find that the radio efficiency of X-ray and optical flares, which is the fraction of flare energy channelled into radio-emitting charges, increases with spectral type. These results motivate us to conjecture that the emergence of large-scale magnetic fields in CAS systems and later M dwarfs leads to an increase in radio efficiency.

Low-mass Stars: Their Protoplanetary Disk Lifetime Distribution

While most protoplanetary disks lose their gas within less than 10 Myr, individual disk lifetimes vary from <1 Myr to ≫20 Myr, with some disks existing for 40 Myr. Mean disk half-lifetimes hide this diversity; only a so-far nonexisting disk lifetime distribution could capture this fact. The benefit of a disk lifetime distribution would be twofold. First, it would provide a stringent test on disk evolution theories. Second, it could function as an input for planet formation models. Here, we derive such a disk lifetime distribution. We heuristically test different standard distribution forms for their ability to account for the observed disk fractions at certain ages. We here concentrate on the distribution for low-mass stars (spectral types M3.7–M6, M s ≈ 0.1–0.24 M ⊙) because disk lifetimes depend on stellar mass. A Weibull-type distribution (k = 1.78, λ = 9.15) describes the observational data if all stars have a disk at a cluster age t c = 0. However, a better match exists for lower initial disk fractions. For f(t=0) = 0.65, a Weibull distribution (k = 2.34, λ = 11.22) and a Gaussian distribution (σ = 9.52, μ = 9.52) fit the data similarly well. All distributions have in common that they are wide, and most disks are dissipated at ages >5 Myr. The next challenge is to quantitatively link the diversity of disk lifetimes to the diversity in planets.

Rotational Variability and Detection of Superflares in a Young Brown Dwarf by TESS

We present a comprehensive analysis of a Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) high-quality light curve for a young brown dwarf, MHO 4 having spectral type M7.0, in the Taurus star-forming region. We investigate the rotation periods and characterize the brown dwarf’s dynamic atmosphere and surface features. Our light curve analysis of MHO 4 reveals a rotation period of approximately 2.224 days. Remarkably, MHO 4 exhibits two significant flaring events. Furthermore, we estimate the bolometric flare energies to be within the energy range of 1034 to 1035 erg, classifying them as superflares.

The Hawaii Infrared Parallax Program. VI. The Fundamental Properties of 1000+ Ultracool Dwarfs and Planetary-mass Objects Using Optical to Mid-infrared Spectral Energy Distributions and Comparison to BT-Settl and ATMO 2020 Model Atmospheres

We derive the bolometric luminosities (L bol) of 865 field-age and 189 young ultracool dwarfs (spectral types M6–T9, including 40 new discoveries presented here) by directly integrating flux-calibrated optical to mid-infrared (MIR) spectral energy distributions (SEDs). The SEDs consist of low-resolution (R ∼ 150) near-infrared (NIR; 0.8–2.5μm) spectra (including new spectra for 97 objects), optical photometry from the Pan-STARRS1 survey, and MIR photometry from the CatWISE2020 survey and Spitzer/IRAC. Our L bol calculations benefit from recent advances in parallaxes from Gaia, Spitzer, and UKIRT, as well as new parallaxes for 19 objects from CFHT and Pan-STARRS1 presented here. Coupling our L bol measurements with a new uniform age analysis for all objects, we estimate substellar masses, radii, surface gravities, and effective temperatures (T eff) using evolutionary models. We construct empirical relationships for L bol and T eff as functions of spectral type and absolute magnitude, determine bolometric corrections in optical and infrared bandpasses, and study the correlation between evolutionary model-derived surface gravities and NIR gravity classes. Our sample enables a detailed characterization of BT-Settl and ATMO 2020 atmospheric model systematics as a function of spectral type and position in the NIR color–magnitude diagram. We find the greatest discrepancies between atmospheric and evolutionary model-derived T eff (up to 800 K) and radii (up to 2.0 R Jup) at the M/L spectral type transition boundary. With 1054 objects, this work constitutes the largest sample to date of ultracool dwarfs with determinations of their fundamental parameters.

The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs

The hydrogen Paschen lines are known activity indicators, but studies of them in M dwarfs during quiescence are as rare as their reports in flare studies. This situation is mostly caused by a lack of observations, owing to their location in the near-infrared regime, which is covered by few high-resolution spectrographs. We study the Paβ line, using a sample of 360 M dwarfs observed by the CARMENES spectrograph. Descending the spectral sequence of inactive M stars in quiescence, we find the Paβ line to get shallower until about spectral type M3.5 V, after which a slight re-deepening is observed. Looking at the whole sample, for stars with Hα in absorption, we find a loose anti-correlation between the (median) pseudo-equivalent widths (pEWs) of Hα and Paβ for stars of similar effective temperature. Looking instead at time series of individual stars, we often find correlation between pEW(Hα) and pEW(Paβ) for stars with Hα in emission and an anti-correlation for stars with Hα in absorption. Regarding flaring activity, we report the automatic detection of 35 Paschen line flares in 20 stars. Additionally we found visually six faint Paschen line flares in these stars plus 16 faint Paschen line flares in another 12 stars. In strong flares, Paschen lines can be observed up to Pa 14. Moreover, we find that Paschen line emission is almost always coupled to symmetric Hα line broadening, which we ascribe to Stark broadening, indicating high pressure in the chromosphere. Finally we report a few Paβ line asymmetries for flares that also exhibit strong Hα line asymmetries.

Ultracool Dwarf Absolute Magnitude versus Spectral Type Relations for JWST NIRCam Filters

We synthesize JWST NIRCam photometry for a range of narrow, medium, and wide filters using SpeX prism spectra and parallaxes of 688 field-age and 151 young (≲200 Myr) ultracool dwarfs (spectral types M6–T9). We derive absolute magnitude-spectral type polynomial relations for the F164N, F187N, and F212N narrow filters; the F140M, F162M, F182M, and F210M medium filters; and the F115W, F150W, and F200W wide filters. Our relations enable the calculation of photometric distances for ultracool dwarfs observed with JWST in the absence of parallax measurements. Additionally, using the synthesized photometry to generate color–color figures can help distinguish high-redshift galaxies from brown dwarf interlopers.

A super-Earth and a mini-Neptune near the 2:1 MMR straddling the radius valley around the nearby mid-M dwarf TOI-2096

Context.Several planetary formation models have been proposed to explain the observed abundance and variety of compositions of super-Earths and mini-Neptunes. In this context, multitransiting systems orbiting low-mass stars whose planets are close to the radius valley are benchmark systems, which help to elucidate which formation model dominates.Aims.We report the discovery, validation, and initial characterization of one such system, TOI-2096 (TIC 142748283), a two-planet system composed of a super-Earth and a mini-Neptune hosted by a mid-type M dwarf located 48 pc away.Methods.We characterized the host star by combining optical spectra, analyzing its broadband spectral energy distribution, and using evolutionary models for low-mass stars. Then, we derived the planetary properties by modeling the photometric data from TESS and ground-based facilities. In addition, we used archival data, high-resolution imaging, and statistical validation to support our planetary interpretation.Results.We found that the stellar properties of TOI-2096 correspond to a dwarf star of spectral type M4±0.5. It harbors a super-Earth (R= 1.24 ± 0.07R⊕) and a mini-Neptune (R= 1.90 ± 0.09R⊕) in likely slightly eccentric orbits with orbital periods of 3.12 d and 6.39 d, respectively. These orbital periods are close to the first-order 2:1 mean-motion resonance (MMR), a configuration that may lead to measurable transit timing variations (TTVs). We computed the expected TTVs amplitude for each planet and found that they might be measurable with high-precision photometry delivering mid-transit times with accuracies of ≲2 min. Moreover, we conclude that measuring the planetary masses via radial velocities (RVs) could also be possible. Lastly, we found that these planets are among the best in their class to conduct atmospheric studies using the NIRSpec/Prism onboard theJames WebbSpace Telescope (JWST).Conclusions.The properties of this system make it a suitable candidate for further studies, particularly for mass determination using RVs and/or TTVs, decreasing the scarcity of systems that can be used to test planetary formation models around low-mass stars.

A Search for Predicted Astrometric Microlensing Events by Nearby Brown Dwarfs* *Released.

Gravitational microlensing has the potential to provide direct gravitational masses of single, free-floating brown dwarfs, independent of evolutionary and atmospheric models. The proper motions and parallaxes of nearby brown dwarfs can be used to predict close future alignments with distant background stars that cause a microlensing event. Targeted astrometric follow up of the predicted microlensing events permits the brown dwarf’s mass to be measured. Predicted microlensing events are typically found via searching for a peak threshold signal using an estimate of the lens mass. We develop a novel method that finds predicted events that instead will lead to a target lens-mass precision. The main advantage of our method is that it does not require a lens-mass estimate. We use this method to search for predicted astrometric microlensing events occurring between 2014 and 2032 using a catalog of 1225 low-mass star and brown-dwarf lenses in the Solar Neighborhood of spectral type M6 or later and a background source catalog from DECaLS Data Release 9. The background source catalog extends to g = 23.95, providing a more dense catalog compared to Gaia. Our search did not reveal any upcoming microlensing events. We estimate the rate of astrometric microlensing event for brown dwarfs in the Legacy Survey and find it to be low ∼10−5 yr−1. We recommend carrying out targeted searches for brown dwarfs in front of the Galactic Bulge and Plane to find astrometric microlensing events that will allow the masses of single, free-floating brown dwarfs to be measured.

XMM-Newton and TESS observations of the highly variable polar V496 UMa

Aims. We studied the temporal and spectral behavior of V496 UMa from the optical to the X-ray regimes. Methods. We used archival XMM-Newton and TESS observations obtained in 2017 and 2019, respectively, to perform a spectral and timing analysis of the highly variable magnetic CV. Results. The light curves of the TESS and XMM-Newton satellites reveal a double-humped pattern modulated with the periodicity of 91.058467 ± 0.00001 min. V496 UMa displays a two-pole accretion geometry in the high accretion state. X-ray spectra from these regions are composed of thermal plasma radiation and soft blackbody components with almost identical temperatures and a total accretion rate of Ṁ = 1.4(8) × 10−11 M⊙ yr−1. The X-ray centers of the humps show longitudinal shifts of −18° and 4°, and shifts around photometric phase zero of −172° and −186°, for the main hump and second hump, respectively. The long-term ZTF light curves reveal high and low accretions states. Low-state ZTF and SDSS photometric data are consistent with an 0.8 M⊙ white dwarf at 10 000 K and a main-sequence donor star with a spectral type of M5.0 at a Gaia determined distance of 758 pc. Conclusions. V496 UMa is a very bright polar in X-rays when it is in the high state. Due to its unusual geometric structure, mass accretion onto the second accretion pole is interrupted occasionally. This discontinuous behavior does not follow a certain pattern in time and has been observed so far only in the high state. The X-ray light curves display clear evidence of an accretion stream at the photometric phase of ϕ = 0.81, which does not show up in optical light curves. An accurate period was derived using the combined TESS and XMM-Newton data, which differs by 3.8σ from published results.

Ultracool dwarfs identified using spectra in LAMOST DR7

In this work, we identify 734 ultracool dwarfs with a spectral type of M6 or later, including one L0. Of this sample, 625 were studied spectroscopically for the first time. All of these ultracool dwarfs are within 360 pc, with aGaiaGmagnitude brighter than ∼19.2 mag. By studying the spectra and checking their stellar parameters (Teff, log g, and [M/H]) derived with the LAMOST pipeline, we found their cool red nature and their metallicity to be consistent with the nature of Galactic thin-disk objects. Furthermore, 77 of them show lithium absorption lines at 6708 Å, further indicating their young ages and substellar nature. Kinematics obtained through LAMOST radial velocities, along with the proper motion and parallax data fromGaiaEDR3, also suggest that the majority of our targets are thin-disk objects. Kinematic ages were estimated through the relationship between the velocity dispersion and the average age for a certain population. Moreover, we identified 35 binaries, with 6 of them reported as binaries for the first time.

New Infrared Spectral Indices of Luminous Cold Stars: From Early K to M Types

Abstract We present infrared spectral indices (1.0–2.3 μm) of Galactic late-type giants and red supergiants (RSGs). We used existing and new spectra obtained at resolution power R = 2000 with SpeX on the IRTF telescope. While a large CO equivalent width (EW), at 2.29 μm ([CO, 2.29] ≳ 45 Å) is a typical signature of RSGs later than spectral type M0, [ CO ] of K-type RSGs and giants are similar. In the [CO, 2.29] versus [Mg i, 1.71] diagram, RSGs of all spectral types can be distinguished from red giants because the Mg i line weakens with increasing temperature and decreasing gravity. We find several lines that vary with luminosity, but not temperature: Si i (1.59 μm), Sr (1.033 μm), Fe+Cr+Si+CN (1.16 μm), Fe+Ti (1.185 μm), Fe+Ti (1.196 μm), Ti+Ca (1.28 μm), and Mn (1.29 μm). Good markers of CN enhancement are the Fe+Si+CN line at 1.087 μm and CN line at 1.093 μm. Using these lines, at the resolution of SpeX, it is possible to separate RSGs and giants. Contaminant O-rich Mira and S-type AGBs are recognized by strong molecular features due to water vapor features, TiO band heads, and/or ZrO absorption. Among the 42 candidate RSGs that we observed, all but one were found to be late types. Twenty-one have EWs consistent with those of RSGs, 16 with those of O-rich Mira AGBs, and one with an S-type AGB. These infrared results open new, unexplored, potential for searches at low resolution of RSGs in the highly obscured innermost regions of the Milky Way.

Identification of a Low-mass Companion to the White Dwarf SDSS J131730.84+483332.7

Abstract We present the discovery of 2MASS J13173072+4833343, a low-mass stellar companion to the ∼5.5 Gyr old white dwarf SDSS J131730.85+483332.8. This companion was discovered through the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen science collaboration. We obtained a near-infrared spectrum of the companion and determined a spectral type of M8.5. Using the cooling age of the white dwarf, we determined that the stellar companion has a mass of 0.077 − 0.017 + 0.005 M ☉, or 80.2 − 1.8 + 0.5 M Jup, near the substellar boundary.

Toward the true number of flaring giant stars in the Kepler field

Aims. We aim to give a reliable estimate of the number of flaring giant stars in the Kepler field. By analyzing the flaring activity of these stars, we explored their flare statistics and the released flare energies. The role of oscillation in suppressing magnetic activity was also investigated. We searched for flaring specialities that may be associated with the giant nature across a sample of flaring giant stars. Methods. We searched for flares using the ≈4 yr long Kepler data on a sample of 706 stars compiled from two lists of flaring giants (log g ≤ 3.5) found in the literature. To lessen the probability of false positives two different pipelines are used independently for flare detection. Tests are carried out to correct the detection bias at low flare energies for a subsample of 19 further studied, frequently flaring stars. For these 19 stars flare energy distributions and flare frequency diagrams (FFDs) are constructed. For comparison purposes KIC 2852961 is re-analyzed with our present approach. Results. From the 706 Kepler flaring giant candidates, we ruled out those where oscillations or pulsations were misclassified and those that turned out to be dwarf stars. Finally, we confirm only 61 stars as flaring giants. Among these 61 flaring giants, we found only six that also show oscillations; we suggest that a large fraction of the 61 flaring giants are members of spectroscopic binaries, which has already been proven for 11 of them. The number of detected flares on giant stars correlate only weakly with the rotational periods. The FFDs for the 19 most flaring stars were fit by power-law functions. Regarding log–log representation, the slopes of the individual fits lead to an average α = 2.01 ± 0.16 power-law index, but the ranges of flare energies scatter within almost two orders, showing the inherent heterogeneity of the sample of flaring giants. Broken power-law fits are applied for two giant stars that have similar flare energy ranges; however, the energy at the breakpoints of the power laws are different, unveiling possible differences in the magnetic field strengths and atmospheric structures of these stars. The average power-law index of α ≈ 2 is the same for the flaring giants, the (super)flaring G-dwarfs, and dwarf stars between spectral types M6 and L0. Conclusions. The 61 confirmed flaring giant stars make up only ≈0.3% of the entire giant star population in the Kepler database, which is in contrast with previous estimates of about an order higher percentage. We found that most of the false positives are in fact oscillating red giants. No strong correlation was found between the stellar properties and the flaring characteristics. The majority of the flaring specialities are hardly related to the giant nature, if at all. This, together with the finding that the observed flare durations correlate with flare energies, regardless of the flare energy level and stellar luminosity class, suggests common background physics in flaring stars, or in other words, a general scaling effect behind the flares on different stars.

Leave No Low-mass Star Behind: Results from Extended Surveys of Hα Emission from Stars in Praesepe and the Hyades*

Abstract We present the results of our spectroscopic surveys of members of two nearby, rich open clusters, Praesepe and the Hyades, which fold in updated membership catalogs for both based on Gaia data. Our data include 1200 of our own R ≈ 2000 spectra (900 for Praesepe, 300 for the Hyades), 300 archival spectra (270 for Praesepe, 30 for the Hyades), and more than 1000 spectra obtained by the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (750 for Praesepe and 440 for the Hyades). For each good-quality spectrum, we measure the Hα equivalent width and run a Monte Carlo iterator to estimate the uncertainty. Our surveys include at least one spectrum for 870 stars in Praesepe and for 460 stars in the Hyades. The vast majority of these are stars later than F7 (&lt;1.2 M ⊙). Our coverage extends down to a spectral type of M6 (≈0.2 M ⊙) in both clusters, allowing us to compare in detail the equivalent-width distributions for these two coeval populations (≈800 Myr). Our surveys represent the most extensive investigations of Hα emission in single-aged low-mass stellar populations to date, and form the basis of our exploration of the age-rotation-activity in these two benchmark clusters.

SPECULOOS: Ultracool dwarf transit survey

Context. One of the most promising avenues for the detailed study of temperate Earth-sized exoplanets is the detection of such planets in transit in front of stars that are small and near enough to make it possible to carry out a thorough atmospheric characterisation with next-generation telescopes, such as the James Webb Space telescope (JWST) or Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). In this context, the TRAPPIST-1 planets form a unique benchmark system that has garnered the interest of a large scientific community. Aims. The SPECULOOS survey is an exoplanet transit survey targeting a volume-limited (40 pc) sample of ultracool dwarf stars (of spectral type M7 and later) that is based on a network of robotic 1 m telescopes especially designed for this survey. The strategy for brighter and earlier targets leverages on the synergy with the ongoing TESS space-based exoplanet transit survey. Methods. We define the SPECULOOS target list as the sum of three non-overlapping sub-programmes incorporating the latest type objects (Teff ≲ 3000 K). Programme 1 features 365 dwarfs that are small and near enough to make it possible to detail atmospheric characterisation of an ‘Earth-like’ planet with the upcoming JWST. Programme 2 features 171 dwarfs of M5-type and later for which a significant detection of a planet similar to TRAPPIST-1b should be within reach of TESS. Programme 3 features 1121 dwarfs that are later than M6-type. These programmes form the basis of our statistical census of short-period planets around ultracool dwarf stars. Results. Our compound target list includes 1657 photometrically classified late-type dwarfs, with 260 of these targets classified, for the first time, as possible nearby ultracool dwarf stars. Our general observational strategy was to monitor each target between 100 and 200 h with our telescope network, making efficient use of the synergy with TESS for our Programme 2 targets and a proportion of targets in our Programme 1. Conclusions. Based on Monte Carlo simulations, we expect to detect up to a few dozen temperate, rocky planets. We also expect a number of them to prove amenable for atmospheric characterisation with JWST and other future giant telescopes, which will substantially improve our understanding of the planetary population of the latest-type stars.

A Novel Survey for Young Substellar Objects with the W-band Filter. I. Filter Design and New Discoveries in Ophiuchus and Perseus

We present the design and implementation of a medium-band near-IR filter tailored for detecting low-mass stars and brown dwarfs from the summit of Maunakea. The W-band filter is centered at 1.45 μm with a bandpass width of 6%, designed to measure the depth of the H2O water absorption prominent in objects with spectral types of M6 and later. When combined with standard J and H photometry, the W-band filter is designed to determine spectral types to ≈1.4 subtypes for late-M and L dwarfs, largely independent of surface gravity and reddening. This filter’s primary application is completing the census of young substellar objects in star-forming regions, using W-band selection to greatly reduce contamination by reddened background stars that impede broad-band imaging surveys. We deployed the filter on the UH 88 inch telescope to survey ∼3 degree2 of the NGC 1333, IC 348, and ρ Ophiuchus star-forming regions. Our spectroscopic followup of W-band selected candidates resulted in the confirmation of 48 ultracool dwarfs with a success rate of 89%, demonstrating the efficacy of this new filter and selection method.

Updated X-ray view of the Hyades cluster

Aims. We revisit the X-ray properties of the main sequence Hyades members and the relation between X-ray emission and stellar rotation. Methods. As an input catalog for Hyades members, we combined three recent Hyades membership lists derived from Gaia DR2 data that include the Hyades core and its tidal tails. We searched for X-ray detections of the main sequence Hyades members in the ROSAT all-sky survey, and pointings from ROSAT, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and XMM-Newton. Furthermore, we adopted rotation periods derived from Kepler’s K2 mission and other resources. Results. We find an X-ray detection for 281 of 1066 bona fide main sequence Hyades members and provide statistical upper limits for the undetected sources. The majority of the X-ray detected stars are located in the Hyades core because of its generally smaller distance to the Sun. F- and G-type stars have the highest detection fraction (72%), while K- and M-type dwarfs have lower detection rates (22%). The X-ray luminosities of the detected members range from ∼2 × 1027 erg s−1 for late M-type dwarfs to ∼2 × 1030 erg s−1 for active binaries. The X-ray luminosity distribution functions formally differ for the members in the core and tidal tails, which is likely caused by a larger fraction of field stars in our Hyades tails sample. Compared to previous studies, our sample is slightly fainter in X-rays due to differences in the Hyades membership list used; furthermore, we extend the X-ray luminosity distribution to fainter luminosities. The X-ray activity of F- and G-type stars is well defined at FX/Fbol ≈ 10−5. The fractional X-ray luminosity and its spread increases to later spectral types reaching the saturation limit (FX/Fbol ≈ 10−3) for members later than spectral type M3. Confirming previous results, the X-ray flux varies by less than a factor of three between epochs for the 104 Hyades members with multiple epoch data, significantly less than expected from solar-like activity cycles. Rotation periods are found for 204 Hyades members, with about half of them being detected in X-rays. The activity-rotation relation derived for the coeval Hyades members has properties very similar to those obtained by other authors investigating stars of different ages.

Detection and characterization of two VLM binaries: LP 1033-31 and LP 877-72

ABSTRACT Using the high-resolution near-infrared adaptive optics imaging from the NaCo instrument at the Very Large Telescope, we report the discovery of a new binary companion to the M-dwarf LP 1033-31 and also confirm the binarity of LP 877-72. We have characterized both the stellar systems and estimated the properties of their individual components. We have found that LP 1033-31 AB with the spectral type of M4.5+M4.5 has a projected separation of 6.7 ± 1.3 AU. Whereas with the spectral type of M1+M4, the projected separation of LP 877-72 AB is estimated to be 45.8 ± 0.3 AU. The binary companions of LP 1033-31 AB are found to have similar masses, radii, effective temperatures, and log g with the estimated values of 0.20 ± 0.04 $\rm {M}_{\odot }$, 0.22 ± 0.03 $\rm {R}_{\odot }$, and 3200 K, 5.06 ± 0.04. However, the primary of LP 877-72 AB is found to be twice as massive as the secondary with the derived mass of 0.520 ± 0.006 $\rm {M}_{\odot }$. The radius and log g for the primary of LP 877-72 AB are found to be 1.8 and 0.95 times that of the secondary component with the estimated values of 0.492 ± 0.011 $\rm {R}_{\odot }$ and 4.768 ± 0.005, respectively. With an effective temperature of 3750 ± 15 K, the primary of LP 877-72 AB is also estimated to be ∼400 K hotter than the secondary component. We have also estimated the orbital period of LP 1033-31 and LP 877-72 to be ∼28 and ∼349 yr, respectively. The binding energies for both systems are found to be &amp;gt;1043 erg, which signifies that both systems are stable.

Fundamental Parameters of ∼30,000 M dwarfs in LAMOST DR1 Using Data-driven Spectral Modeling

Abstract M dwarfs are the most common type of star in the Galaxy, and because of their small size are favored targets for searches of Earth-sized transiting exoplanets. Current and upcoming all-sky spectroscopic surveys, such as the Large Sky Area Multi Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), offer an opportunity to systematically determine physical properties of many more M dwarfs than has been previously possible. Here, we present new effective temperatures, radii, masses, and luminosities for 29,678 M dwarfs with spectral types M0–M6 in the first data release (DR1) of LAMOST. We derived these parameters from the supervised machine-learning code, The Cannon, trained with 1388 M dwarfs in the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Cool Dwarf Catalog that were also present in LAMOST with high signal-to-noise ratio (&gt;250) spectra. Our validation tests show that the output parameter uncertainties are strongly correlated with the signal-to-noise of the LAMOST spectra, and we achieve typical uncertainties of 110 K in (∼3%), 0.065 (∼14%) in radius, 0.054 (∼12%) in mass, and 0.012 (∼20%) in luminosity. The model presented here can be rapidly applied to future LAMOST data releases, significantly extending the samples of well-characterized M dwarfs across the sky using new and exclusively data-based modeling methods.