Clouds with a silicate lining: Using JWST spectra to probe atmospheric diversity in young AB Dor L dwarfs

TL;DR

This study uses JWST spectra to analyze atmospheric diversity and cloud structures in young brown dwarfs, revealing variations in silicate cloud features and potential inclination-dependent effects.

Contribution

First comprehensive JWST spectral analysis of young brown dwarfs, identifying silicate cloud features and their dependence on viewing angle and atmospheric properties.

Findings

Silicate absorption varies with viewing angle, deeper in equator-on objects.

W1741-46 shows unusually strong silicate absorption despite pole-on orientation.

Potential correlation between silicate absorption peak wavelength and inclination.

Abstract

We present the first full JWST NIRSpec Prism and MIRI LRS 0.6 - 14 $\mu$m (R ~ 100) spectra and analysis of five ~ 133 Myr L dwarf members of the AB Doradus moving group and one probable $\sim 500$ Myr T dwarf of the Oceanus moving group with known inclination angles between ~ $23 - 90^{\circ}$: W0047+68, 2M0355+11, 2M0642+41, W1741-46, 2M2206-42, and 2M2244+20. We construct near-complete spectral energy distributions of each of our objects to measure their bolometric luminosities, and estimate their fundamental parameters ($T_{\text{eff}}$, radius, $M$ and $\log g$). We use cross-sections of relevant gases to identify the species that are present in each atmosphere. Of particular interest is the silicate absorption feature at 8 - 11 $\mu$m, which provides insight into the complex cloud structure of brown dwarfs. We examine this silicate absorption feature in detail and also test whether there exists a latitudinal dependence in the silicate absorption feature within a coeval sample of brown dwarfs. Various molecular absorption bands are visible in our spectra, including H$_2$O, CH$_4$, CO and CO$_2$. The shape of the silicate absorption feature varies within our sample, and we find that 4/5 of our L type objects agree with previously observed trends stating that objects viewed equator-on have deeper silicate absorption. We highlight W1741-46 as an outlier in our sample with an unusually strong silicate absorption given its near pole-on orientation. We also present a tentative correlation between the wavelength of peak silicate absorption and inclination, which may suggest variations in cloud chemical composition or physical properties. We find an unexpected spectral diversity within our sample, which motivates future studies on these objects through atmospheric retrievals, which will determine the silicate cloud composition and reveal whether there exists a trend with inclination.