WISEA J041451.67-585456.7 and WISEA J181006.18-101000.5: The First Extreme T-type Subdwarfs?
Abstract
We present the discoveries of WISEA J041451.67-585456.7 and WISEA J181006.18-101000.5, two low-temperature (1200-1400 K), high proper motion T-type subdwarfs. Both objects were discovered via their high proper motion (>0"5 yr-1); WISEA J181006.18-101000.5 as part of the NEOWISE proper motion survey and WISEA J041451.67-585456.7 as part of the citizen science project Backyard Worlds; Planet 9. We have confirmed both as brown dwarfs with follow-up near-infrared spectroscopy. Their spectra and near-infrared colors are unique among known brown dwarfs, with some colors consistent with L-type brown dwarfs and other colors resembling those of the latest-type T dwarfs. While no forward model consistently reproduces the features seen in their near-infrared spectra, the closest matches suggest very low metallicities ([Fe/H] $\leqslant $ -1), making these objects likely the first examples of extreme subdwarfs of the T spectral class (esdT). WISEA J041451.67-585456.7 and WISEA J181006.18-101000.5 are found to be part of a small population of objects that occupy the "substellar transition zone," and have the lowest masses and effective temperatures of all objects in this group.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- July 2020
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2007.03836
- Bibcode:
- 2020ApJ...898...77S
- Keywords:
-
- T subdwarfs;
- Brown dwarfs;
- Subdwarf stars;
- T dwarfs;
- 1680;
- 185;
- 2054;
- 1679;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal