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Discovery of a wide planetary-mass companion to the young M3 star GU Psc

Authors :
Naud, Marie-Eve
Artigau, Étienne
Malo, Lison
Albert, Loïc
Doyon, René
Lafrenière, David
Gagné, Jonathan
Saumon, Didier
Morley, Caroline V.
Allard, France
Homeier, Derek
Beichman, Charles A.
Gelino, Christopher R.
Boucher, Anne
Source :
The Astrophysical Journal, 787, 5, Issue 1 (2014 May 20)
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

We present the discovery of a co-moving planetary-mass companion ~42" (~2000 AU) from a young M3 star, GU Psc, likely member of the young AB Doradus Moving Group (ABDMG). The companion was first identified via its distinctively red i - z color (> 3.5) through a survey made with Gemini-S/GMOS. Follow-up Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope/WIRCam near-infrared (NIR) imaging, Gemini-N/GNIRS NIR spectroscopy and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry indicate a spectral type of T3.5+-1 and reveal signs of low gravity which we attribute to youth. Keck/Adaptive Optics NIR observations did not resolve the companion as a binary. A comparison with atmosphere models indicates Teff = 1000-1100 K and logg = 4.5-5.0. Based on evolution models, this temperature corresponds to a mass of 9-13 MJup for the age of ABDMG (70-130 Myr). The relatively well-constrained age of this companion and its very large angular separation to its host star will allow its thorough characterization and will make it a valuable comparison for planetary-mass companions that will be uncovered by forthcoming planet-finder instruments such as Gemini Planet Imager and SPHERE.<br />Comment: 18 p., 10 fig., published in ApJ. May 20th, 2014: Small corrections compared to the journal version: 1) addition of the an important reference to 1RSX 1609-2105b from Lafreni\`ere et al. 2008, 2010, 2) update of the url for Andrew Mann metallicity calibration, 3) correction of a few factual mistakes in section 2.2.4), 4) aesthetic reformatting of urls

Details

Database :
arXiv
Journal :
The Astrophysical Journal, 787, 5, Issue 1 (2014 May 20)
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.1405.2932
Document Type :
Working Paper
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/787/1/5