The Future of Ultracool Dwarf Science with JWST

TL;DR

The paper discusses how JWST will revolutionize ultracool dwarf research by revealing new spectra, enabling better understanding of their physical properties and atmospheric processes, and expanding the observable population.

Contribution

It highlights JWST's potential to uncover spectral data of ultracool dwarfs previously inaccessible, advancing knowledge of their atmospheres, composition, and evolution.

Findings

JWST will observe spectra of ultracool dwarfs previously hidden from ground-based telescopes.

New spectral data will help decipher the physical processes in brown dwarf atmospheres.

JWST will enable discovery of ultracool dwarfs in clusters and the local disk population.

Abstract

Ultracool dwarfs exhibit a remarkably varied set of characteristics which hint at the complex physical processes acting in their atmospheres and interiors. Spectra of these objects not only depend upon their mass and effective temperature, but also their atmospheric chemistry, weather, and dynamics. As a consequence divining their mass, metallicity and age solely from their spectra has been a challenge. JWST, by illuminating spectral blind spots and observing objects with constrained masses and ages should finally unearth a sufficient number of ultracool dwarf Rosetta Stones to allow us to decipher the processes underlying the complex brown dwarf cooling sequence. In addition the spectra of objects invisible from the ground, including very low mass objects in clusters and nearby cold dwarfs from the disk population, will be seen for the first time. In combination with other ground- and space-based assets and programs, JWST will usher in a new golden era of brown dwarf science and discovery.