A Spitzer IRAC Imaging Survey for T Dwarf Companions Around M, L, and T Dwarfs: Observations, Results, and Monte Carlo Population Analyses

TL;DR

This study used Spitzer IRAC imaging to search for substellar companions around 117 nearby M, L, and T dwarfs, finding no new companions but constraining their possible frequency and properties through Monte Carlo simulations.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive survey of T dwarf companions around nearby low-mass stars and establishes upper limits on their occurrence rates at wide separations.

Findings

No new substellar companions detected.

Estimated upper limit of 3.4% for T dwarf companions at 35-1200 AU.

Constraints on the frequency of 500-600K companions at wide separations.

Abstract

We report observational techniques, results, and Monte Carlo population analyses from a Spitzer Infrared Array Camera imaging survey for substellar companions to 117 nearby M, L, and T dwarf systems (median distance of 10 pc, mass range of 0.6 to \sim0.05 M\odot). The two-epoch survey achieves typical detection sensitivities to substellar companions of [4.5 {\mu}m] \leq 17.2 mag for angular separations between about 7" and 165". Based on common proper motion analysis, we find no evidence for new substellar companions. Using Monte Carlo orbital simulations (assuming random inclination, random eccentricity, and random longitude of pericenter), we conclude that the observational sensitivities translate to an ability to detect 600-1100K brown dwarf companions at semimajor axes greater than ~35 AU, and to detect 500-600K companions at semimajor axes greater than ~60 AU. The simulations also estimate a 600-1100K T dwarf companion fraction of < 3.4% for 35-1200 AU separations, and < 12.4% for the 500-600K companions, for 60-1000 AU separations.