A 1.48–2.48 μm <i>R</i> = 28 000 spectroscopic atlas of the L7.5 and T0.5 components of the nearest pair of brown dwarfs: Luhman 16AB

ABSTRACT We present a high signal-to-noise (SNR $\sim$ 450), high-dispersion ($R \equiv \lambda / \Delta \lambda \sim$ 28 000) $H$- and $K$-band spectroscopic atlas of the L7.5 and T0.5 components of the Luhman 16AB binary (WISE J104915.57$-$531906.1AB): the closest pair of brown dwarfs, and one of the best substellar benchmarks. The spectra were combined from a 70-d spectroscopic monitoring campaign of the binary with IGRINS on Gemini South. We fit model photospheres to the combined high-quality spectra to estimate atmospheric parameters. The model is based on the Sonora model atmosphere further incorporating the effects of clouds and disequilibrium. We detect ammonia (NH3) lines in both binary components, making Luhman 16A the warmest object where individual NH3 lines were identified. We discover hydrogen (H2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and hydrogen fluoride (HF) lines in both components, following recent reports of these species in either cooler (H2, H2S in a T6 dwarf) or warmer (HF in young late-M or mid-L dwarfs) objects. Methane (CH4) shows a small contribution, with lines sensitive to the slight temperature difference spanning the L/T transition. Against model expectations, we do not detect FeH lines, implying more efficient iron rainout than incorporated in the models. We find various unidentified features in water-dominated regions, likely the result of residual inaccuracies in the water line lists. We searched for planetary-mass companions by periodogram analysis of radial velocities over 70 d but detected no significant signal. The upper limits of projected planetary mass are $M\sin {i}=$ 0.2 $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ and 0.3 $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ at P $\sim$ 1 d, and 0.4 $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ and 0.7 $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ at P $\sim$ 10 d for Luhman 16A and B, respectively.

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Publication Details

Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Published
2025-03-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staf487
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.31
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article

A 1.48–2.48 μm R = 28 000 spectroscopic atlas of the L7.5 and T0.5 components of the nearest pair of brown dwarfs: Luhman 16AB

Sagnick Mukherjee, Gregory N. Mace, Hiroyuki Tako Ishikawa, Megan E. Tannock et al.
2 citations
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
2.31
article

A 1.48–2.48 μm R = 28 000 spectroscopic atlas of the L7.5 and T0.5 components of the nearest pair of brown dwarfs: Luhman 16AB

Sagnick Mukherjee, Gregory N. Mace, Hiroyuki Tako Ishikawa, Megan E. Tannock, Jonathan J. Fortney, Stanimir Metchev, Paulo A. Miles-Páez, R. Kurtev, Callie E. Hood
article en
2 citations

Abstract

ABSTRACT We present a high signal-to-noise (SNR $\sim$ 450), high-dispersion ($R \equiv \lambda / \Delta \lambda \sim$ 28 000) $H$- and $K$-band spectroscopic atlas of the L7.5 and T0.5 components of the Luhman 16AB binary (WISE J104915.57$-$531906.1AB): the closest pair of brown dwarfs, and one of the best substellar benchmarks. The spectra were combined from a 70-d spectroscopic monitoring campaign of the binary with IGRINS on Gemini South. We fit model photospheres to the combined high-quality spectra to estimate atmospheric parameters. The model is based on the Sonora model atmosphere further incorporating the effects of clouds and disequilibrium. We detect ammonia (NH3) lines in both binary components, making Luhman 16A the warmest object where individual NH3 lines were identified. We discover hydrogen (H2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and hydrogen fluoride (HF) lines in both components, following recent reports of these species in either cooler (H2, H2S in a T6 dwarf) or warmer (HF in young late-M or mid-L dwarfs) objects. Methane (CH4) shows a small contribution, with lines sensitive to the slight temperature difference spanning the L/T transition. Against model expectations, we do not detect FeH lines, implying more efficient iron rainout than incorporated in the models. We find various unidentified features in water-dominated regions, likely the result of residual inaccuracies in the water line lists. We searched for planetary-mass companions by periodogram analysis of radial velocities over 70 d but detected no significant signal. The upper limits of projected planetary mass are $M\sin {i}=$ 0.2 $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ and 0.3 $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ at P $\sim$ 1 d, and 0.4 $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ and 0.7 $M_{\mathrm{J}}$ at P $\sim$ 10 d for Luhman 16A and B, respectively.

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyVol. 539(2)
Western University (CA), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), Centro de Astrobiología (ES), Biographics (United States) (US), University of Valparaíso (CL), The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
2.31
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