scholarly journals Lightning and charge processes in brown dwarf and exoplanet atmospheres

2019 ◽  
Vol 377 (2154) ◽  
pp. 20180398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Helling ◽  
Paul B. Rimmer
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beams ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Molecular Ions ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Brown Dwarf ◽  
Weather System ◽  
Hot Jupiters ◽  
Chemical Tracers ◽  
Formation And Evolution

The study of the composition of brown dwarf atmospheres helped to understand their formation and evolution. Similarly, the study of exoplanet atmospheres is expected to constrain their formation and evolutionary states. We use results from three-dimensional simulations, kinetic cloud formation and kinetic ion-neutral chemistry to investigate ionization processes that will affect their atmosphere chemistry: the dayside of super-hot Jupiters is dominated by atomic hydrogen, and not H 2 O. Such planetary atmospheres exhibit a substantial degree of thermal ionization and clouds only form on the nightside where lightning leaves chemical tracers (e.g. HCN) for possibly long enough to be detectable. External radiation may cause exoplanets to be enshrouded in a shell of highly ionized, H 3 + -forming gas and a weather-driven aurora may emerge. Brown dwarfs enable us to study the role of electron beams for the emergence of an extrasolar, weather system-driven aurora-like chemistry, and the effect of strong magnetic fields on cold atmospheric gases. Electron beams trigger the formation of H 3 + in the upper atmosphere of a brown dwarf (e.g. LSR-J1835), which may react with it to form hydronium, H 3 O + , as a longer lived chemical tracer. Brown dwarfs and super-hot gas giants may be excellent candidates to search for H 3 O + as an H 3 + product. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Advances in hydrogen molecular ions: H 3 + , H 5 + and beyond’.

scholarly journals Sparkling nights and very hot days on WASP-18b: the formation of clouds and the emergence of an ionosphere

2019 ◽  
Vol 626 ◽  
pp. A133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ch. Helling ◽  
P. Gourbin ◽  
P. Woitke ◽  
V. Parmentier
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Hot Jupiters ◽  
Gas Phase Chemistry ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Heterogeneous Clouds ◽  
Phase Chemistry ◽  
Equilibrium Calculations ◽  
Very High ◽  
Substantial Degree

Context. WASP-18b is an ultra-hot Jupiter with a temperature difference of up to 2500 K between day and night. Such giant planets begin to emerge as a planetary laboratory for understanding cloud formation and gas chemistry in well-tested parameter regimes in order to better understand planetary mass loss and for linking observed element ratios to planet formation and evolution. Aims. We aim to understand where clouds form, their interaction with the gas-phase chemistry through depletion and enrichment, the ionisation of the atmospheric gas, and the possible emergence of an ionosphere on ultra-hot Jupiters. Methods. We used 1D profiles from a 3D atmosphere simulation for WASP-18b as input for kinetic cloud formation and gas-phase chemical equilibrium calculations. We solved our kinetic cloud formation model for these 1D profiles, which sample the atmosphere of WASP-18b at 16 different locations along the equator and in the mid-latitudes. We derived the gas-phase composition consistently. Results. The dayside of WASP-18b emerges as completely cloud-free as a result of the very high atmospheric temperatures. In contrast, the nightside is covered in geometrically extended and chemically heterogeneous clouds with dispersed particle size distributions. The atmospheric C/O ratio increases to >0.7 and the enrichment of the atmospheric gas with cloud particles is ρd/ρgas > 10−3. The clouds that form at the limbs appear located farther inside the atmosphere, and they are the least extended. Not all day- to nightside terminator regions form clouds. The gas phase is dominated by H2, CO, SiO, H2O, H2S, CH4, and SiS. In addition, the dayside has a substantial degree of ionisation that is due to ions such as Na+, K+, Ca+, and Fe+. Al+ and Ti+ are the most abundant of their element classes. We find that WASP-18b, as one example for ultra-hot Jupiters, develops an ionosphere on the dayside.

scholarly journals Brown Dwarf Model Atmospheres Based on Multi-Dimensional Radiation Hydrodynamics

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (H15) ◽  
pp. 756-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
France Allard ◽  
Bernd Freytag
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Model ◽  
Molecular Transport ◽  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Model Atmosphere ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Brown Dwarf ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
The Status ◽  
Low Mass

AbstractThe atmospheres of Brown Dwarfs (BDs) are the site of molecular opacities and cloud formation, and control their cooling rate, radius and brightness evolution. Brown dwarfs evolve from stellar-like properties (magnetic activity, spots, flares, mass loss) to planet-like properties (electron degeneracy of the interior, cloud formation, dynamical molecular transport) while retaining, due to their fully convective interior, larger rotational velocities (≤ 30 km/s i.e. P < 4 hrs versus 11 hrs for Jupiter). Model atmospheres treating all this complexity are therefore essential to understand the evolution properties, and to interpret the observations of these objects. While the pure gas-phase based NextGen model atmospheres (Allard et al. 1997, Hauschildt et al. 1999) have allowed the understanding of the several populations of Very Low Mass Stars (VLMs), the AMES-Dusty models (Allard et al. 2001) based on equilibrium chemistry have reproduced some near-IR photometric properties of M and L-type brown dwarfs, and played a key role in the determination of the mass of brown dwarfs and Planetary Mass Objects (PMOs) in the eld and in young stellar clusters. In this paper, we present a new model atmosphere grid for VLMs, BDs, PMOs named BT-Settl, which includes a cloud model and dynamical molecular transport based on mixing information from 2D Radiation Hydrodynamic (RHD) simulations (Freytag et al. 2009). We also present the status of our 3D RHD simulations including rotation (Coriolis forces) of a cube on the surface of a brown dwarf. The BT-Settl model atmosphere grid will be available shortly via the Phoenix web simulator (http://phoenix.ens-lyon.fr/simulator/).

scholarly journals Brown Dwarf Binaries

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S282) ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn N. Allers
Keyword(s):  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Solar Neighborhood ◽  
Test Model ◽  
Brown Dwarf ◽  
Fundamental Properties ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractNearly 500 brown dwarfs have been discovered in recent years. The majority of these brown dwarfs exist in the solar neighborhood, yet determining their fundamental properties (mass, age, temperature & metallicity) has proved to be quite difficult, with current estimates relying heavily on theoretical models. Binary brown dwarfs provide a unique opportunity to empirically determine fundamental properties, which can then be used to test model predictions. In addition, the observed binary fractions, separations, mass ratios, & orbital eccentricities can provide insight into the formation mechanism of these low-mass objects. I will review the results of various brown dwarf multiplicity studies, and will discuss what we have learned about the formation and evolution of brown dwarfs by examining their binary properties as a function of age and mass.

scholarly journals Chemical Tracers of Pre-Brown Dwarf Cores Formed Through Turbulent Fragmentation

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S315) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Holdship ◽  
Serena Viti
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Cloud ◽  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Brown Dwarf ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Chemical Tracers ◽  
Fractional Abundance ◽  
Chemical Code

AbstractA gas-grain time dependent chemical code, UCL_CHEM, has been used to investigate the possibility of using chemical tracers to differentiate between the possible formation mechanisms of brown dwarfs. We model the formation of a pre-brown dwarf core through turbulent fragmentation by following the depth-dependent chemistry in a molecular cloud through the step change in density associated with an isothermal shock and the subsequent freefall collapse once a bound core is produced. Trends in the fractional abundance of molecules commonly observed in star forming cores are then explored to find a diagnostic for identifying brown dwarf mass cores formed through turbulence. We find that the cores produced by our models would be bright in CO and NH3 but not in HCO+. This differentiates them from models using purely freefall collapse as such models produce cores that would have detectable transitions from all three molecules.

scholarly journals Mapping the Pressure-dependent Day–Night Temperature Contrast of a Strongly Irradiated Atmosphere with HST Spectroscopic Phase Curve

2021 ◽  
Vol 163 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Ben W. P. Lew ◽  
Dániel Apai ◽  
Yifan Zhou ◽  
Mark Marley ◽  
L. C. Mayorga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Dwarf ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Phase Curve ◽  
Brown Dwarf ◽  
Night Temperature ◽  
Flux Variation ◽  
Hot Jupiters ◽  
Temperature Contrast ◽  
Hot Jupiter

Abstract Many brown dwarfs are on ultrashort-period and tidally locked orbits around white dwarf hosts. Because of these small orbital separations, the brown dwarfs are irradiated at levels similar to hot Jupiters. Yet, they are easier to observe than hot Jupiters because white dwarfs are fainter than main-sequence stars at near-infrared wavelengths. Irradiated brown dwarfs are, therefore, ideal hot Jupiter analogs for studying the atmospheric response under strong irradiation and fast rotation. We present the 1.1–1.67 μm spectroscopic phase curve of the irradiated brown dwarf (SDSS1411-B) in the SDSS J141126.20 + 200911.1 brown dwarf–white dwarf binary with the near-infrared G141 grism of the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3. SDSS1411-B is a 50M Jup brown dwarf with an irradiation temperature of 1300 K and has an orbital period of 2.02864 hr. Our best-fit model suggests a phase-curve amplitude of 1.4% and places an upper limit of 11° for the phase offset from the secondary eclipse. After fitting the white dwarf spectrum, we extract the phase-resolved brown dwarf emission spectra. We report a highly wavelength-dependent day–night spectral variation, with a water-band flux variation of about 360% ± 70% and a comparatively small J-band flux variation of 37% ± 2%. By combining the atmospheric modeling results and the day–night brightness temperature variations, we derive a pressure-dependent temperature contrast. We discuss the difference in the spectral features of SDSS1411-B and hot Jupiter WASP-43b, as well as the lower-than-predicted day–night temperature contrast of J4111-BD. Our study provides the high-precision observational constraints on the atmospheric structures of an irradiated brown dwarf at different orbital phases.

scholarly journals A Deep Large area Search for Low Luminosity Stars

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 435-435
Author(s):  
Hugh R.A. Jones ◽  
Mike R.S. Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Type ◽  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Evolutionary Models ◽  
Spectral Indices ◽  
Late Type ◽  
Brown Dwarf ◽  
Large Area ◽  
M Dwarfs

In a recent survey for faint red stars from a digital stack of Schmidt plates a number of candidate objects were identified. Parallax’s for three of these objects have been reported showing them to have luminosities which interpreted within the available evolutionary models indicate them to be good brown dwarf candidates. Here we examine spectra of these objects and others from the plate stack. Using standard spectral indices we find that for a given spectral type their spectra are more consistent with the Pleiades brown dwarfs (PPL 15, Teide 1 and Calar 3) than with standard late-type M dwarfs. Our interpretation is that this is due to their selection by RF IN colours which at values > 3 preferentially selects objects with relatively low gravities. For late-type M dwarfs and brown dwarfs low gravities are expected to be a reliable indication of youth. We also notice that the stack objects generally have strong FeH absorption for their spectral type. Current model atmospheres suggest that FeH strongly increases in strength toward lower metallicities and lower temperatures. We believe that this is not consistent with the available observational evidence from late-type M dwarfs. It is possible that solid Fe is forming inthe low temperature atmospheres relatively depleting FeH strengths toward lower temperatures. We find some evidence that for dwarfs at low temperatures dust formation is less prevalent in lower gravity objects suggesting that dwarfs at low temperatures stronger FeH may be an indication of youth. In addition to the spectral evidence the three stack objects whose parallax’s have been measured show small tangential velocities which is a further indication of youth.

scholarly journals The particle and magnetic environments surrounding close-in exoplanets

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S320) ◽  
pp. 397-402
Author(s):  
A. A. Vidotto ◽  
R. Fares ◽  
M. Jardine ◽  
C. Moutou ◽  
J.-F. Donati
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Radio Emission ◽  
Magnetic Field Intensity ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Hot Jupiters ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Host Stars

AbstractThe proper characterisation of stellar winds is essential for the study of propagation of eruptive events (flares, coronal mass ejections) and the study of space weather events on exoplanets. Here, we quantitatively investigate the nature of the stellar winds surrounding the hot Jupiters HD46375b, HD73256b, HD102195b, HD130322b, HD179949b. We simulate the three-dimensional winds of their host stars, in which we directly incorporate their observed surface magnetic fields. With that, we derive the wind properties at the position of the hot-Jupiters’ orbits (temperature, velocity, magnetic field intensity and pressure). We show that the exoplanets studied here are immersed in a local stellar wind that is much denser than the local conditions encountered around the solar system planets (e.g., 5 orders of magnitude denser than the conditions experienced by the Earth). The environment surrounding these exoplanets also differs in terms of dynamics (slower stellar winds, but higher Keplerian velocities) and ambient magnetic fields (2 to 3 orders of magnitude larger than the interplanetary medium surrounding the Earth). The characterisation of the host star's wind is also crucial for the study of how the wind interacts with exoplanets. For example, we compute the exoplanetary radio emission that is released in the wind-exoplanet interaction. For the hot-Jupiters studied here, we find radio fluxes ranging from 0.02 to 0.13 mJy. These fluxes could become orders of magnitude higher when stellar eruptions impact exoplanets, increasing the potential of detecting exoplanetary radio emission.

Bayesian Spectroscopic Characterization of Directly Imaged Planets and Brown Dwarfs and Implications for Ultracool Model Atmospheres

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhoujian Zhang ◽  
Michael Liu ◽  
Mark Marley ◽  
Michael Line ◽  
William Best
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Spectroscopic Characterization ◽  
Cool Temperature ◽  
Brown Dwarf ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Model Predictions

&lt;p&gt;Spectroscopic characterization of imaged exoplanets and brown dwarfs is essential for understanding their atmospheres, formation, and evolution, but such work is challenged by the unavoidably simplified model atmospheres needed to interpret spectra. While most previous work has focused on single or at most a few objects, comparing a large collection of spectra to models can uncover trends in data-model inconsistencies needed to improve model predictions, thereby leading to robust properties from exoplanet and brown dwarf spectra. Therefore, we are conducting a systematic analysis of a valuable but underutilized resource: the numerous high-quality spectra of (directly imaged and free-floating) exoplanets and brown dwarfs already accumulated by the community.&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-converted-space&quot;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Focusing on the cool-temperature end, we have constructed a Bayesian modeling framework using the new Sonora-Bobcat model atmospheres and have applied it to study near-infrared low-resolution spectra of &gt;50 late-T imaged planets and brown dwarfs (&amp;#8776;600-1200K, &amp;#8776;10-70 M&lt;sub&gt;Jup&lt;/sub&gt;) and infer their physical properties (effective temperature, surface gravity, metallicity, radii, mass). By virtue of having such a large sample of high-quality spectra, our analysis identifies the systematic offsets between observed and model spectra as a function of wavelength and physical properties to pinpoint specific shortcomings in model predictions. We have also found that the spectroscopically inferred metallicities, ages, and masses of our sample all considerably deviate from expectations, suggesting the physical and chemical assumptions made within these models need to be improved to fully interpret data. Our work has established a systematic validation of cloudless model atmospheres to date and we discuss extending such analysis to wider temperature and wavelength (e.g., JWST) ranges, as well as finding new planetary-mass and brown dwarf benchmarks, in order to validate ultracool model atmospheres over larger parameter space.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals X-Ray Detection of Brown Dwarfs with Chandra

2003 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 447-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott J. Wolk
Keyword(s):  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Stellar Clusters ◽  
Brown Dwarf ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Vast Range

I review recent observations of brown dwarfs by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. These observations fall in 2 categories, young stellar clusters which contain brown dwarfs and brown dwarf candidates and directed pointings at brown dwarfs and very low mass stars. Surprisingly, there are already over 60 published detections of brown dwarfs by Chandra. A review of the X–ray characteristics shows these objects are subject to flaring and their temperatures and luminosities have a vast range which is related to age.

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