GD 552: a cataclysmic variable with a brown dwarf companion?
E. Unda-Sanzana, T. R. Marsh, B. T. Gansicke, P. F. L. Maxted, L. Morales-Rueda, V. S. Dhillon, T. D. Thoroughgood, E. Tremou, C. A. Watson, R. Hinojosa-Goni
GD 552 is a high proper motion star with the strong, double-peaked emission lines characteristic of the dwarf nova class of cataclysmic variable star, and yet no outburst has been detected during the past 12 years of monitoring. We present spectroscopy taken with the aim of detecting emission from the mass donor in this system. We fail to do so at a level which allows us to rule out the presence of a near-main-sequence star donor. Given GD 552's orbital period of 103 minutes, this suggests that it is either a system that has evolved through the ~80-minute orbital period minimum of cataclysmic variable stars and now has a brown dwarf mass donor, or that has formed with a brown dwarf donor in the first place. This model explains the low observed orbital velocity of the white dwarf and GD 552's low luminosity. It is also consistent with the absence of outbursts from the system.
We present the K-band spectrum of the cataclysmic variable LL And, obtained using NIRSPEC on Keck-II. The spectrum shows no evidence for the absorption features observed by Howell & Ciardi (2001), which these authors used to claim a detection of a brown-dwarf secondary star in LL And. In light of our new data, we review the evidence for brown-dwarf secondary stars in this and other cataclysmic variables.
Infrared spectroscopic observations of LL Andromedae and EF Eridani are presented. Our K band spectrum of LL Andromedae reveals the presence of methane absorption in the secondary star indicating an effective temperature less than 1300K, similar to a "T" type methane brown dwarf. The secondary star in EF Eridani is seen to be warmer with an effective temperature of ~1650K and a spectroscopic classification consistent with an L4-5 star. Both secondaries have theoretical mass estimates of 0.04-0.055 solar masses (40-55 Jupiter masses). Our IR spectroscopic observations of LL And and EF Eri provi…
Using improved, up-to-date stellar input physics tested against observations of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs we calculate the secular evolution of low-mass donor cataclysmic variables (CVs), including those which form with a brown dwarf donor. Our models confirm the mismatch between the calculated minimum period (Pmin ~ 70 min) and the observed short-period cut-off (~ 80 min) in the CV period histogram. We find that tidal and rotational corrections applied to the one-dimensional stellar structure equations have no significant effect on the period minimum. Theoretical period distributions sy…
We present VTL/ISAAC infrared spectroscopy of a sample of short orbital period cataclysmic variables which are candidates for harboring substellar companions. We have detected the KI and NaI absorption lines of the companion star in VY Aqr. The overall spectral distribution in this system is best fit with a M9.5 type dwarf spectra, implying a distance of $100 \pm 10$ pc. VY Aqr seems to fall far from the theoretical distribution of secondary star temperatures around the orbital period minimum. Fitting of the IR spectral energy distribution (SED) was performed by comparing the observed spectrum…
Because of the similarity of the primary star of HS 1136+6646 to the planetary nebula central star BE Ursae Majoris, we did wide field imaging of the former with an H-alpha filter. No nebulosity was detected. On the other hand, the point spread function of the star appeared extended. A partially-resolved red component is detected in the image with the five-band Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Most importantly, a companion is easily resolved in the HST acquisition image for the published STIS observation. A companion to the pre-cataclysmic binary is present at a separation of 1.349'' at position angl…
We have examined VTL/ISAAC 1-2.5 $\umu$m spectroscopy of a sample of short orbital period cataclysmic variables which are candidates for harboring substellar companions. We provide descriptions of the infrared spectrum of \hbox{EI Psc}, \hbox{V834 Cen}, \hbox{WX Cet}, \hbox{VW Hyi}, \hbox{TY PsA} and \hbox{BW Scl}. Fitting of the IR spectral energy distribution (SED) was performed by comparing the observed spectrum with late-type templates. Absorption features of the secondary star were detected in \hbox{EI Psc} and \hbox{V834 Cen}, consistent with dwarf secondaries of spectral type K 5 $\pm$ …
Low-state spectrophotometry of the short-period polar EF Eridani (Porb=81 min) found the system at V=18.0 with no trace of the companion (Wheatley and Ramsay 1998). We show that the lack of such spectral features implies that the companion to the white dwarf in EF Eri has a spectral type later than M9 and is either a transition object at the brink of hydrogen burning or a brown dwarf. The optical low state spectrum indicates a temperature of the white dwarf of Teff=9500+-500K. This is one of the coldest white dwarfs in cataclysmic variables, implying a cooling age t_cool>=10e9 yrs or accretion…
The present-day formation of cataclysmic variables (CVs) with brown dwarf (BD) secondaries (0.013 M_sun < M_sec < 0.075 M_sun) is investigated using a population synthesis technique. Results from the latest, detailed models for BDs have been incorporated into the population synthesis code. For our models, we find that ZACVs with BD secondaries have orbital periods in the range 46 min to 2.5 hrs. We also find that ZACVs with BD secondaries comprise 18% of the total, present-day ZACV population. In addition, we find that 80% of ZACVs with BD secondaries have orbital periods < 78 minutes. This im…
We find that the ROSAT source 1RXS J105010.3-140431 is a cataclysmic variable with orbital period of 88.6 minutes and a spectrum closely resembling WZ Sge. In particular, emission lines are flanked by Stark-broadened absorption wings probably originating in the photosphere of a compact object. The Balmer absorption lines can be modeled by the spectrum of a DA white dwarf with 13 000 $< T_{eff} <$ 24 000 K. The strong absorption lines allowed us to obtain direct radial velocities of the white dwarf using the cross-correlation technique. We find an extremely low white dwarf radial velocity half …
The orbital evolution of cataclysmic variables in which the companion is illuminated by a fraction of the accretion luminosity consists of irradiation-driven limit cycles on thermal timescales, superimposed on a secular evolution toward shorter periods due to systemic angular momentum losses. We show that positive orbital period derivatives during bright phases are a natural consequence of the expansion of the companion during high mass transfer phases in the limit cycle. The irradiation instability may be enhanced by consequential angular momentum losses, CAML, accompanying the limit cycle. W…
We present the first X-ray observations of the 4 Draconis system, consisting of an M3III giant with a hot ultraviolet companion. It has been claimed that the companion is itself an AM Her-type binary system, an identification that places strong constraints on the evolution of cataclysmic variables. We find that the X-ray properties of 4 Draconis are consistent with the presence of an accreting white dwarf, but not consistent with the presence of an AM Her system. We conclude that 4 Dra is therefore most-likely a symbiotic binary containing a white dwarf accreting material from the wind of the …
Sun-like stars have stellar, brown dwarf and planetary companions. To help constrain their formation and migration scenarios, we analyse the close companions (orbital period < 5 years) of nearby Sun-like stars. By using the same sample to extract the relative numbers of stellar, brown dwarf and planetary companions, we verify the existence of a very dry brown dwarf desert and describe it quantitatively. With decreasing mass, the companion mass function drops by almost two orders of magnitude from 1 M_Sun stellar companions to the brown dwarf desert and then rises by more than an order of magni…
Cataclysmic variables are binary stars in which a relatively normal star is transferring mass to its compact companion. This interaction gives rise to a rich range of behaviour, of which the most noticeable are the outbursts that give the class its name. Novae belong to the class, as do the less well known dwarf novae and magnetic systems. Novae draw their energy from nuclear reactions, while dwarf novae rely on gravity to power their smaller eruptions. All the different classes of cataclysmic variable can be accommodated within a single framework and this article will describe the framework, …
Observations of Cataclysmic Variables show a number of phenomena that do not fit easily into the standard magnetic braking scenario. These include the large spread in mass transfer rates, the low surface temperatures of many of the companion stars, and evidence for material at low velocities. We propose that these anomalies have a common cause: the presence of a circumbinary (CB) disk. This may be a significant component of mass transferring binaries in general. Direct detection of such CB disks may be possible but difficult, because of their low luminosity Disks surrounding Cataclysmic Binari…
We use three field L and T dwarfs which were discovered to be wide companions to known stars by the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) to derive a preliminary brown dwarf companion frequency. Observed L and T dwarfs indicate that brown dwarfs are not unusually rare as wide (Delta >1000 A.U.) systems to F-M0 main-sequence stars (M>0.5M_sun, M_V<9.5), even though they are rare at close separation (Delta <3 A.U.), the ``brown dwarf desert.'' Stellar companions in these separation ranges are equally frequent, but brown dwarfs are >~ 10 times as frequent for wide than close separations. A brown dwar…
Cool L- and T-type objects were discovered first as companions to stars in 1988 and 1995, respectively. A certain example of the yet cooler Y-type spectral class (Teff <~ 500K?) has not been seen. Recent infrared imaging observations of stars and brown dwarfs indicate that substellar companions with large semi-major axes and with masses less than the brown dwarf/giant planet dividing line (~13.5 Mj) are rare. Theoretical considerations of Jeans mass fragmentation of molecular clouds are consistent with this minimum mass cutoff and also with the semi-major axis (hundreds of AU) characteristic o…
We investigate the growth of tidal instabilities in accretion discs in a binary star potential, using three dimensional numerical simulations. As expected from analytic work, the disc is prone to an eccentric instability provided that it is large enough to extend to the 3:1 resonance. The eccentric disc leads to positive superhumps in the light curve. It has been proposed that negative superhumps might arise from a tilted disc, but we find no evidence that the companion gravitational tilt instability can grow fast enough in a fluid disc to create a measurable inclination. The origin of negativ…
We present the first observations of magnetic cataclysmic variables with the Spitzer Space Telescope. We used the Infrared Array Camera to obtain photometry of the polars EF Eri, GG Leo, V347 Pav, and RX J0154.0-5947 at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 $μ$m. In all of our targets, we detect excess mid-infrared emission over that expected from the component stars alone. We explore the origin of this IR excess by examining bremsstrahlung, cyclotron emission, circumbinary dust, and L/T brown dwarf secondary stars. Bremsstrahlung and cyclotron emission appear unlikely to be significant contributors to the o…
We present the first results of a large imaging survey to identify wide brown dwarf companions to stars within 10 pc. We have performed a deep (H-band limit ~ 19.0 mag), wide field (up to 16x16 arcmin) astrometric imaging campaign in two epochs around more than 230 nearby stars. Preliminary results show that the wide low-mass companion fraction is far lower than expected, indicating that interactions with the galactic disk may have removed the weakly bound wide companions around old stars.
We present a spectroscopic study of the long-recurrence-time dwarf nova V592 Herculis based on observations obtained during its August 1998 superoutburst. From the analysis of the radial velocities of the Halpha emission line we find a most likely orbital period of 85.5 +- 0.4 minutes, but the 91.2 +- 0.6 minutes alias cannot be completely discarded. Both periods imply a very small period excess and supports the brown-dwarf like nature of the secondary star.
The white dwarf in AM Her systems is strongly magnetic and keeps in synchronous rotation with the orbit by magnetic coupling to the secondary star. As the latter evolves through mass loss to a cool, degenerate brown dwarf it can no longer sustain its own magnetic field and coupling is lost. Angular momentum accreted then spins up the white dwarf and the system no longer appears as an AM Her system. Possible consequences are run-away mass transfer and mass ejection from the system. Some of the unusual cataclysmic variable systems at low orbital periods may be the outcome of this evolution.
We present high-speed, three-colour photometry of the eclipsing cataclysmic variable SDSS J150722.30+523039.8 (hereafter SDSS J1507). This system has an orbital period of 66.61 minutes, placing it below the observed ``period minimum'' for cataclysmic variables. We determine the system parameters via a parameterised model of the eclipse fitted to the observed lightcurve by chi^2 minimisation. We obtain a mass ratio of q = 0.0623 +/- 0.0007 and an orbital inclination i = 83.63 +/- 0.05 degrees. The primary mass is M_w = 0.90 +/- 0.01 M_sun. The secondary mass and radius are found to be M_r =0.05…
We present new astrometric and spectroscopic data to confirm two new M/L dwarf systems, G124-62 and LHS5166, and discuss the nature of a third system (LP261-75). Age and thus mass determinations of the L dwarf companions are discussed based on various activity-age relationships of the M dwarf primaries. This publication will update the list of widely separated substellar companions to nearby stars.
Using the adaptive optics system, Hokupa'a, at Gemini-North, we have directly imaged a companion around the UKIRT faint standard M8 star, LHS 2397a (FS 129) at a separation of 2.96 AU. Near-Infrared photometry of the companion has shown it to be an L7.5 brown dwarf and confirmed the spectral type of the primary to be M8. We also derive a substellar mass of the companion of 0.068 Msun, although masses in the range (0.061-0.069) are possible, and the primary mass as 0.090 Msun (0.089-0.094). Reanalysis of archival imaging from HST has confirmed the secondary as a common proper motion object. Thi…
I review here the results of the first RV survey for spectroscopic companions to very young brown dwarfs (BDs) and (very) low-mass stars in the ChaI star-forming cloud with UVES at the VLT. This survey studies the binary fraction in an as yet unexplored domain not only in terms of primary masses (substellar regime) and ages (a few Myr) but also in terms of companion masses (sensitive down to planetary masses) and separations (< 1 AU). The UVES spectra obtained so far hint at spectroscopic companions of a few Jupiter masses around one BD and around one low-mass star (M4.5) with orbital periods …
The white dwarf Giclas 29-38 has attracted much attention due to its large infrared excess and the suggestion that excess might be due to a companion brown dwarf. We observed this object using speckle interferometry at the Keck telescope, obtaining diffraction-limited resolution (55 milliarcseconds) at K band, and found it unresolved. Assuming the entire K band excess is due to a single point-like companion, we place an upper limit on the binary separation of 30 milliarcseconds, or 0.42 AU at the star's distance of 14.1 pc. This result, combined with astroseismological data and other images of…
We report the discovery of a 16-20 Jupiter mass radial velocity companion around the very young (3 Myr) brown dwarf candidate ChaHa8. Based on high-resolution echelle spectra of ChaHa8 taken between 2000 and 2007 with UVES at the VLT, a companion was detected through RV variability with a semi-amplitude of 1.6 km/s. A Kepler fit to the data yields an orbital period of the companion of 1590 days and an eccentricity of e=0.49. A companion minimum mass M2sin i between 16 and 20 Jupiter masses is derived when using model-dependent mass estimates for the primary. The mass ratio M2/M1 might be as sm…
An unresolved, likely L dwarf companion to the DA white dwarf GD1400 is reported. This would be only the second such system known, discovered 17 years after the prototype L dwarf, GD165B, was determined to be a companion to a white dwarf. Photometric observations and model predicted stellar parameters of the well studied white dwarf primary indicate that GD1400B has $J-K\ga2.0$ and $M_K=12.13$ mag. If correct, this would place GD1400B at spectral type L6, and it would be the lowest luminosity unevolved companion known to a white dwarf, and thus a definite brown dwarf. However, a low resolution…
We report the discovery of a 16-20 Jupiter mass radial velocity companion around the very young (~3 Myr) brown dwarf candidate ChaHa8 (M5.75-M6.5). Based on high-resolution echelle spectra of ChaHa8 taken between 2000 and 2007 with UVES at the VLT, a companion was detected through RV variability with a semi-amplitude of 1.6 km/s. A Kepler fit to the data yields an orbital period of the companion of 1590 days and an eccentricity of e=0.49. A companion minimum mass M2sini between 16 and 20 Jupiter masses is derived when using model-dependent mass estimates for the primary. The mass ratio q= M2/M…
We present first results from the Palomar Adaptive Optics Survey of Young Stars conducted at the Hale 5 m telescope. Through direct imaging we have discovered a brown dwarf and two low-mass stellar companions to the young solar-type stars HD 49197, HD 129333 (EK Dra), and V522 Per, and confirmed a previously suspected companion to RX J0329.1+0118 (Sterzik et al. 1997), at respective separations of 0.95" (43 AU), 0.74" (25 AU), 2.09" (400 AU), and 3.78" (380 AU). Physical association of each binary system is established through common proper motion and/or low-resolution infrared spectroscopy. B…
We present infrared H- and K-band spectra of a companion candidate 3" north of the young star GSC 08047-00232, a probable member of the nearby young Horologium association. From previously obtained JHK-band colors and the magnitude difference between primary and companion candidate, the latter could well be substellar (Neuh"auser et al. 2003) with the spectral type being roughly M7-L9 from the JHK colors (Chauvin et al. 2003). With the H- and K-band spectra now obtained with ISAAC at the VLT, the spectral type of the companion candidate is found to be M6-9.5. Assuming the same age and distance…
How frequent are brown dwarf binaries? Do brown dwarfs have planets? Are current theoretical pre-main-sequence evolutionary tracks valid down to the substellar regime? - Any detection of a companion to a brown dwarf takes us one step forward towards answering these basic questions of star formation. We report here on a search for spectroscopic and visual companions to young brown dwarfs in the Cha I star forming cloud. Based on spectra taken with UVES at the VLT, we found significant radial velocity (RV) variations for five bona-fide and candidate brown dwarfs in Cha I. They can be caused by e…
We present JHK observations of 22 intermediate-mass stars in Sco OB2, obtained with VLT/NACO. The survey was performed to determine the status of (sub)stellar candidate companions of A and late-B members. The distinction between companions and background stars is by a comparison with isochrones and statistical arguments. We are sensitive to companions in the separation range 0.1''-11'' (13-1430 AU) and K<17. We detect 62 secondaries of which 18 are physical companions (3 new), 11 candidates, and 33 background stars. The companion masses are in the range 0.03<M<1.19 Msun, with mass ratios 0.06<…
We present radial velocities for 14 stars on the California & Carnegie Planet Search target list that reveal new companions. One star, HD 167665, was fit with a definitive Keplerian orbit leading to a minimum mass for the companion of 50.3 Mjup at a separation from its host of ~5.5 AU. Incomplete or limited phase coverage for the remaining 13 stars prevents us from assigning to them unique orbital parameters. Instead, we fit their radial velocities with Keplerian orbits across a grid of fixed values for Msini and period, P, and use the resulting reduced chi-square surface to place constraints …
We present the discovery of an L0 companion to the nearby M1.5 dwarf G 239-25, at a projected distance of 31 AU. It is the faintest companion discovered so far in our adaptive optics survey of all known M dwarfs within 12 pc, and it lies at the stellar/substellar limit. Given the assumed age of the primary star, the companion is likely an extremely low mass star. The long orbital period of G 239-25 AB ($\approx 100$ years) precludes a direct mass determination, but the relatively wide angular separation will allow detailed analyses of its near infrared and visible spectra.
We present the results of a HST/NICMOS coronagraphic survey for the direct detection of substellar companions within the young TW Hydrae and Tucana Associations. At the distance of these associations, the lower mass limit of detection, based on models, is well into the high mass planet region for separations > 30 AU. Results presented here include spectra and proper motion verification of two brown dwarf companions, TWA 5B and HR 7329B, located 100 AU and 180 AU from their primaries, respectively. We also present a possible exo-solar giant planet candidate located 125 AU from TWA 6. These few …
Doppler CORALIE measurements of the solar-type stars HD141937, HD162020, HD168443 and HD202206 show Keplerian radial-velocity variations revealing the presence of 4 new companions with minimum masses close to the planet/brown-dwarf transition, namely with m_2sin(i) = 9.7, 14.4, 16.9, and 17.5 M_Jup, respectively. The orbits present fairly large eccentricities (0.22<e<0.43). Except for HD162020, the parent stars are metal rich compared to the Sun, as are most of the detected extra-solar planet hosts. Considerations of tidal dissipation in the short-period HD162020 system points towards a brown-…
We report VLT/NACO imaging observations of the stars GSC 08047-00232 and HIP 6856, probable members of the large Tucana-Horologium association. During our previous ADONIS/SHARPII deep imaging survey, a substellar candidate companion was discovered around each star. Based on VLT/NACO astrometric measurements, we find that GSC 08047-00232 and the faint candidate companion near to it share the same proper motion with a significance of 3.1sigma. On the contrary, the candidate companion to HIP 6856 is probably a background object with a significance of 4.3sigma. We also detect a new fainter and clo…
We present the results of a survey for stellar and substellar companions to 82 young stars in the nearby OB association Upper Scorpius. This survey used nonredundant aperture-mask interferometry to achieve typical contrast limits of DeltaK~5-6 at the diffraction limit, revealing 12 new binary companions that lay below the detection limits of traditional high-resolution imaging; we also summarize a complementary snapshot imaging survey that discovered 7 directly resolved companions. The overall frequency of binary companions (~35+5/-4% at separations of 6-435 AU) appears to be equivalent to fie…
We present deep HST/NICMOS observations peering through the outflow cavity of the protostellar candidate IRAS 04381+2540 in the Taurus Molecular Cloud-1. A young stellar object as central source, a jet and a very faint and close (0.6") companion are identified. The primary and the companion have similar colours, consistent with strong reddening. We argue that the companion is neither a shock-excited knot nor a background star. The colour/magnitude information predicts a substellar upper mass limit for the companion, but the final confirmation will require spectroscopic information. Because of …
Context. Brown dwarf companions to stars at separations of a few AU or less are rare objects, and none have been found so far around early-type M dwarfs M0V-M5V). With GJ 1046 (M2.5V), a strong candidate for such a system with a separation of 0.42 AU is presented. Aims. We aim at constraining the mass of the companion in order to decide whether it is a brown dwarf or a low-mass star. Methods. We employed precision RV measurements to determine the orbital parameters and the minimum companion mass. We then derived an upper limit to the companion mass from the lack of disturbances of the RV measu…
In this second of a two-paper sequence, we present Monte Carlo population simulation results of brown dwarf companion data collected during the Cornell High-order Adaptive Optics Survey for brown dwarf companions (CHAOS). Making reasonable assumptions of orbital parameters (random inclination, random eccentricity and random longitude of pericentre) and age distributions, and using published mass functions, we find that the brown dwarf companion fraction around main sequence stars is 0.0%-9.3% for the 25-100 AU semi-major axis region. We find a corresponding L-dwarf companion fraction of 0.0%-3…
We have found a very faint companion to the active solar analog HR 7672 (HD 190406; GJ 779; 15 Sge). Three epochs of high resolution imaging using adaptive optics (AO) at the Gemini-North and Keck II Telescopes demonstrate that HR 7672B is a common proper motion companion, with a separation of 0.79" (14 AU) and a 2.16 um flux ratio of 8.6 mags. Using follow-up K-band spectroscopy from Keck AO+NIRSPEC, we measure a spectral type of L4.5+/-1.5. This is the closest ultracool companion around a main sequence star found to date by direct imaging. We estimate the primary has an age of 1-3 Gyr. Assum…
Model atmospheres have been computed for M dwarfs that are strongly irradiated by nearby hot companions. A variety of primary and secondary spectral types are explored in addition to models specific to four known systems: GD 245, NN Ser, AA Dor, and UU Sge. This work demonstrates that a dramatic temperature inversion is possible on at least one hemisphere of an irradiated M dwarf and the emergent spectrum will be significantly different from an isolated M dwarf or a black body flux distribution. For the first time, synthetic spectra suitable for direct comparison to high-resolution observation…
We report deep imaging observations of the young, nearby star AB Pic, a member of the large Tucana-Horologium as sociation. We have detected a faint, red source 5.5" South of the star with JHK colors compatible with that of a young substellar L dwarf. Follow-up observations at two additional epochs confirm, with a confidence level of 4.7sigma, that the faint red object is a companion to AB Pic rather than it being a stationary background object. A low resolution K-band spectrum indicates an early-L spectral type for the companion. Finally, evolutionary model predictions based on the JHK photom…
We present VLT/NACO SDI images of the very nearby star SCR 1845-6357 (hereafter SCR 1845). SCR 1845 is a recently discovered (Hambly et al. 2004) M8.5 star just 3.85 pc from the sun (Henry et al. 2006). Using the capabilities of the unique SDI device, we discovered a substellar companion to SCR 1845 at a separation of 4.5 AU (1.170''+-0.003'' on the sky) and fainter by 3.57+-0.057 mag in the 1.575 um SDI filter. This substellar companion has an H magnitude of 13.16+0.31-0.26 (absolute H magnitude of 15.30+0.31-0.26), making it likely the brightest mid-T dwarf known. The unique Simultaneous Dif…
We report the discovery of two L dwarfs (the new spectral class defined for dwarfs cooler than the M type) in a two-epoch CCD proper motion survey of 413 square degrees, complemented by infrared photometry from DENIS. One of them has a strong lithium line and is therefore a brown dwarf. The other is a common proper motion companion to the mid-M dwarf LHS 102 (GJ 1001), which has a well determined trigonometric parallax. LHS 102B is thus the coolest L dwarf of known distance and luminosity. Its infrared absolute photometry are very well reproduced by the Allard et al DUSTY models.
Up to now, most planet search projects have concentrated on F to K stars. In order to considerably widen the view, we have stated a survey for planets of old, nearby brown dwarfs and very low mass stars. Using UVES, we have observed 26 brown dwarfs and very low mass stars. These objects are quite inactive and are thus highly suitable for such a project. Two objects were found to be spectroscopic binaries. Another object shows significant radial velocity variations. From our measurements, we conclude that this object either has a planetary-mass companion, or the variations are caused by surface…
We present Lick Natural Guide Star Adaptive Optics observations of the L8 brown dwarf Gliese 337C, which is resolved for the first time into two closely separated (0"53+/-0"03), nearly equal magnitude components with a K_s flux ratio of 0.93+/-0.10. Companionship is inferred from the absence of a 3"6 offset source in 2MASS or photographic plate images, implying that the observed secondary component is a co-moving late-type dwarf. With a projected separation of 11 AU and nearly equal-magnitude components, Gliese 337CD has properties similar to other known companion and field substellar binaries…
We report the discovery of a widely separated (258$\farcs3\pm0\farcs$4) T dwarf companion to the Gl 570ABC system. This new component, Gl 570D, was initially identified from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). Its near-infrared spectrum shows the 1.6 and 2.2 $\micron$ CH$_4$ absorption bands characteristic of T dwarfs, while its common proper motion with the Gl 570ABC system confirms companionship. Gl 570D (M$_J$ = 16.47$\pm$0.07) is nearly a full magnitude dimmer than the only other known T dwarf companion, Gl 229B, and estimates of L = (2.8$\pm$0.3)x10$^{-6}$ L$_{\sun}$ and T$_{eff}$ = 75…
Current evolutionary models imply that most Cataclysmic Variables (CVs) have P_orb<2 hours and are Dwarf Nova (DN) systems that are quiescent most of the time. Observations of nearby quiescent DN find that the UV spectrum is dominated by the hot white dwarf (WD), indicating that it provides a significant fraction of the optical light in addition to the quiescent disk and main sequence companion. Hence, identifying a faint, quiescent CV in either the field or a globular cluster (GC) from broadband colors depends on our ability to predict the WD contribution in quiescence. We are undertaking a t…
We report the discovery of a new white dwarf/M dwarf binary, HS1857+5144, identified in the Hamburg Quasar Survey (HQS). Time-resolved optical spectroscopy and photometry were carried out to determine the properties of this new cataclysmic variable progenitor pre-CV). The light curves of HS1857+5144 display a sinusoidal variation with a period of Porb=383.52 min and peak-to-peak amplitudes of 0.7 mag and 1.1 mag in the B-band and R-band, respectively. The large amplitude of the brightness variation results from a reflection effect on the heated inner hemisphere of the companion star, suggestin…
A substellar-mass object in orbit at about 300 astronomical units (AU) from the young low-mass star G196-3 was detected by direct imaging. Optical and infrared photometry and low- and intermediate-resolution spectroscopy of the faint companion, hereafter referred to as G196-3B, confirms its cool atmosphere and allows its mass to be estimated at 25^{+15}_{-10} Jupiter masses. The separation between both objects and their mass ratio suggest the fragmentation of a collapsing cloud as the most likely origin for G196-3B, but alternatively it could have originated from a proto-planetary disc which h…
We present high-speed, three-colour photometry of the faint eclipsing cataclysmic variables XZ Eri and DV UMa. We determine the system parameters through two techniques: first, timings of the eclipse contact phases of the white dwarf and bright-spot using the derivative of the light curve; and secondly, a parameterized model of the eclipse fitted to the observed light curve by chi-squared minimisation. For both objects, we prefer the latter method, as it is less affected by photon noise and rapid flickering. For XZ Eri we obtain a mass ratio q = 0.1098 +/- 0.0017 and an orbital inclination i =…
In the course of our ongoing multiplicity study of exoplanet host stars we detected a faint companion located at ~43arcsec (480AU physical projected separation) north-west of its primary -- the exoplanet host star HD3651 at 11pc. The companion, HD3651B, clearly shares the proper motion of the exoplanet host star in our four images, obtained with ESO/NTT and UKIRT, spanning three years in epoch difference. The magnitude of the companion is H=16.75+-0.16mag, the faintest co-moving companion of an exoplanet host star imaged directly. HD3651B is not detected in the POSS-II B-, R- and I-band images…
We present the software tool FITDisk, a precompiled-binary Windows GUI version of our smoothed particle hydrodynamics cataclysmic variable accretion disk research code. Cataclysmic variables are binary star systems in which a compact stellar remnant, typically a white dwarf star, is stripping mass from a lower-main-sequence companion star by way of an accretion disk. Typically the disk is the brightest component of the system, because the plasma is heated dramatically as it spirals down in the gravitational well of the primary white dwarf star. The shortest-period systems can display disk "sup…
We present astrometric and spectroscopic observations confirming that two nearby G dwarf systems (Gliese 417 = BD+36 2162 and Gliese 584AB = eta CrB AB) have a widely separated, L dwarf, substellar companion. Using age estimates of the G dwarf primaries, we estimate masses for these L dwarfs from theoretical evolutionary tracks. For the L4.5 dwarf Gl 417B we estimate an age of 0.08-0.3 Gyr and a mass of 0.035+/-0.015 M_sun. For the L8 dwarf Gl 584C we estimate an age of 1.0-2.5 Gyr and a mass of 0.060+/-0.015 M_sun. This latter object also shows evidence of spectrum variability, which may be d…
We present the results of a deep-imaging search for wide companions to low-mass stars and brown dwarfs using NSFCam on IRTF. We searched a sample of 132 M7-L8 dwarfs to magnitude limits of $J \sim 20.5$ and $K \sim 18.5$, corresponding to secondary-primary mass ratios of $\sim 0.5$. No companions were found with separations between $2{\arcsec}$ to $31{\arcsec}$ ($\sim$40 AU to $\sim$1000 AU). This null result implies a wide companion frequency below 2.3% at the 95% confidence level within the sensitivity limits of the survey. Preliminary modeling efforts indicate that we could have detected 85…
A common proper motion survey of M dwarf stars within 8 pc of the Sun reveals no new stellar or brown dwarf companions at wide separations (~100-1400 AU). This survey tests whether the brown dwarf ``desert'' extends to large separations around M dwarf stars and further explores the census of the solar neighborhood. The sample includes 66 stars north of -30 degrees and within 8 pc of the Sun. Existing first epoch images are compared to new J-band images of the same fields an average of 7 years later to reveal proper motion companions within a ~4 arcminute radius of the primary star. No new comp…
Strong selection effects are present in observational samples of cataclysmic variables (CVs), complicating comparisons to theoretical predictions. The selection criteria used to define most CV samples discriminate heavily against the discovery of short-period, intrinsically faint systems. The situation can be improved by selecting CVs for the presence of emission lines. For this reason, we have constructed a homogeneous sample of CVs selected on the basis of Halpha emission. We present discovery observations of the 14 CVs and 2 additional CV candidates found in this search. The orbital periods…
