Variability of Brown Dwarfs

TL;DR

This paper reviews the variability observed in brown dwarfs across spectral types L, T, and Y, highlighting how photometric and spectroscopic modulations reveal atmospheric weather-like patterns.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of brown dwarf variability and discusses constraints on their atmospheric weather phenomena across different spectral types.

Findings

Brown dwarfs exhibit photometric and spectroscopic variability.

Variability patterns suggest weather-like phenomena on brown dwarf surfaces.

Spectral type influences the nature and detectability of atmospheric variability.

Abstract

Brown dwarfs constitute a missing link between low-mass stars and giant planets. Their atmospheres display chemical species typical of planets, and one could wonder whether they also have weather-like patterns. While brown dwarf surface features cannot be directly resolved, the photometric and spectroscopic modulations induced by these features, as they rotate in and out of view, provide a wealth of information on the evolution of their atmosphere. A review of brown dwarfs variability through the L, T and Y spectral types sequence is presented, as well as the constraints that they set on the nature of weather-like patterns on their surface.