Near-infrared spectra of the inflated post-common envelope brown dwarf NLTT 5306B

TL;DR

This study uses phase-resolved near-infrared spectra of the NLTT 5306 binary to investigate the brown dwarf's atmospheric properties and inflation mechanisms, favoring magnetic interactions over high metallicity atmospheres.

Contribution

It provides the first phase-resolved spectral analysis of NLTT 5306 B, constraining atmospheric parameters and ruling out high metallicity as the inflation cause.

Findings

Day- and night-side temperatures are consistent.

Low metallicity models are preferred.

Data supports magnetic interactions as the inflation mechanism.

Abstract

NLTT 5306 is a post-common envelope binary made up of a white dwarf host and brown dwarf companion that has shown evidence of inflation and active mass donation despite not filling its Roche lobe. Two proposed mechanisms for the brown dwarf's inflation are magnetic interactions and a high metallicity, cloudy atmosphere. We present moderate resolution ($R\lesssim2000$) $J$ band Keck/NIRSPEC observations of this system. These phase-resolved data allow us to constrain differences between atmospheric parameters of the day- and night-side of the brown dwarf. Our day- and night-side effective temperature measurements are consistent, in agreement with the brightness temperatures measurements from Casewell et al. 2021a. The day-side favors a slightly lower surface gravity, perhaps stemming from the material streaming between the two objects. Finally, our data show a preference for low metallicity models. This would be expected from the system's old age, but provides direct evidence that a high metallicity, cloudy brown dwarf atmosphere is not responsible for the witnessed inflation. These results strengthen the case for magnetic interactions leading to inflation of NLTT 5306 B.