Multiplicity of Nearby Free-floating Late M and L Dwarfs: HST-WFPC2 Observations of Candidates and Bona Fide Binary Brown Dwarfs
- 1 January 2003
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Symposium - International Astronomical Union
- Vol. 211, 245-248
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0074180900210668
Abstract
We review the results of HST/WFPC2 observations of a sample of 50 very-low-mass objects in the solar neighborhood (30 from our own program and 20 from the archive). Using high spatial resolution HST/WFPC2 images, we observed these objects in two filters (F814W and F675W) in order to identify close companions, measure their colours, and obtain first epoch data of the newly discovered binaries. In addition to 3 previously known binaries we discovered 3 new multiple systems. Second epoch data are required to confirm that they are real common proper motion pairs. Binary properties like multiplicity, distribution of binary separations and brightness ratios hold clues on the origin and evolution of free-floating brown dwarf binaries.Keywords
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