2009/03/28 by P. R. Steele, M. R. Burleigh, J. Farihi +5
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Binary number #Brown dwarf #Orbital elements #Spectral line #Stellar classification #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #White dwarf #astro-ph.GA #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200911694
5 pages, 3 figures, accepted to A&A
arxiv created 2009/03/28 · openalex publication_date 2009/04/08 · arxiv updated 2015/05/13 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
A near-infrared excess is detected at the white dwarf PHL 5038 in <i>UKIDSS<i/> photometry, consistent with the presence of a cool, substellar companion. We have obtained <i>H<i/>- and <i>K<i/>-grism spectra and images of PHL 5038 using NIRI on Gemini North. The target is spatially and spectrally resolved into two components: an 8000 K DA white dwarf, and a likely L8 brown dwarf companion, separated by . The spectral type of the secondary was determined using standard spectral indices for late L and T dwarfs. The projected orbital separation of the binary is 55 AU, so it becomes only the second known wide WD+dL binary to be found after GD 165AB. This object could potentially be used as a benchmark for testing substellar evolutionary models at intermediate to older ages.