Bibcode
DOI
Martin, E. L.; Rebolo, R.; Zapatero-Osorio, M. R.
Referencia bibliográfica
Astrophysical Journal v.469, p.706
Fecha de publicación:
10
1996
Número de citas
231
Número de citas referidas
187
Descripción
We present optical and near-infrared spectroscopy (600-1000 nm) of eight
faint (I > 18) very red (R - I > 2.2) objects discovered in a
recent deep CCD survey of the Pleiades cluster by ZapateroOsorio,
Rebolo, & Martin. We compare them with reliable cluster members like
PP1 15 and Teide 1, and with several field very late type dwarfs
(M4-M9.5), which were observed with similar instrumental configurations.
Using pseudocontinuum ratios, we classify the new substellar candidates
in a spectral sequence defined with reference to field stars of known
spectral types. We also reclassify PP1 15 and Teide 1 in a self-
consistent way. The likelihood of membership for the new candidates is
assessed via the study of their photospheric features, Ha emission,
radial velocity, and consistency of their spectral types and I-band
magnitudes with known cluster members. Four of the new substellar
candidates are as late or later than PP1 15 (M6.5), but only one,
namely, Calar 3 (M8), clearly meets all our membership criteria. It is
indeed an object very similar to the brown dwarf Teide 1.
Out of the eight new substellar candidates, our "cautious" membership
analysis leaves only Calar 3 as a Pleiades brown dwarf with a high level
of confidence. This object, together with Teide 1, allows one to compare
the spectroscopic characteristics of Pleiades brown dwarfs with those of
old very cool dwarfs. The overall spectral properties are similar, but
there are slight differences in the NaI doublet (818.3 nm, 819.5 nm), VO
molecular band (740 nm), and some spectral ratios, which are probably
related to lower surface gravity in the young Pleiades brown dwarfs than
in field stars. Finally, we propose a way of improving future CCD-based
brown dwarf surveys by using narrowband near-IR pseudocontinuum filters.