Methane T-Dwarf Candidates in the Star Forming Region IC 348

TL;DR

This study identifies four T-dwarf candidates in the IC 348 star forming region using deep imaging and narrowband methane filters, potentially representing some of the lowest mass isolated objects in such regions.

Contribution

First detection of T-dwarf candidates in IC 348 using methane imaging, expanding knowledge of low-mass objects in young star forming regions.

Findings

Four T-dwarf candidates identified, three within IC 348

Candidates likely have spectral types T3 to T5

Candidates may be among the lowest mass isolated objects in young regions

Abstract

IC 348 is a young (t$\sim$3Myr) and nearby (d$\sim$340pc) star forming region in the Perseus molecular cloud. We performed a deep imaging survey using the MEGACAM (z-band) and WIRCAM (JHK and narrowband CH${_4}$ on/off) wide-field cameras on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. From the analysis of the narrowband CH${_4}$ on/off deep images, we report 4 T-dwarf candidates, of which 3 clearly lie within the limits of the IC 348 cluster. An upper limit on the extinction was estimated for each candidate from colour-magnitude diagrams, and found consistent with extinction maps of the cloud. Initial comparisons with T-dwarf spectral models suggest these candidates have a spectral type between T3 and T5, and perhaps later, potentially making these among the lowest mass isolated objects detected in a young star forming region so far.