Presentation Abstract

Presentation Number 345.27
Presentation Time: Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012, 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Title A Study of Young Brown Dwarfs in the Mid Infrared
Author Block Joseph P. Lyons1, K. N. Allers2, M. Herzog2, M. C. Liu3
1University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2Bucknell University, 3University of Hawai'i.
Abstract We present findings on the mid infrared colors (3-24 microns) of a sample of forty-six young(~10~100Myrs) field brown dwarfs with spectral types M thru L. The infrared data came from Spitzer’s IRAC and MIPS instruments, as well as WISE’s preliminary release data. When looking at SEDs we find seven of seventeen M type objects showing excesses at 12 and 24 microns likely due to a disk that is unexpected for their age. We also find that L types in general have redder near-IR colors than their field counterparts that persist up to about 5 microns. Young L-type brown dwarfs are known to have redder near-IR colors than their field counterparts.  We discuss the plausibility of mechanisms causing these unusually red colors in both the near-IR and mid-IR. These mechanisms could help to understand the red color also found in the exoplanets HR8799BCD.