Bibcode
Bouy, H.; Huélamo, N.; Martín, E. L.; Barrado Y Navascués, D.; Sterzik, M.; Pantin, E.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 463, Issue 2, February IV 2007, pp.641-646
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2
2007
Journal
Citations
15
Refereed citations
14
Description
Context: To investigate the formation of sub-stellar objects, we
observed a sample of ultracool dwarf members of the Upper Scorpius OB
association. Aims: The properties of disks, such as their
composition, life-time, and frequency compared to the accretor
frequency, provide important clues to the mechanisms responsible for the
formation of stellar and sub-stellar objects. Methods: We report
the results of mid-IR observations with VISIR at the VLT of 10 ultracool
dwarf members of the nearby Upper Scorpius OB association in four
filters ranging from 8.59 (PAH1) to 12.8 μm (Ne II) and one brown
dwarf obserbed with Spitzer between 3.6 and 24 μm. Results:
Seven of our targets were detected in at least one of the bands, and we
derived upper limits on the fluxes of the remaining 4. These results
combined with previous studies from the literature lead to an improved
disk frequency of 50±12%. This frequency is significantly higher
than for accretors (16.3%±6.2%). Only one object showing mid-IR
excess also has Hα emission at a level that indicates it must be
accreting. Four of the detected targets are multiple system candidates.
Conclusions: .The observed disk frequency for sub-stellar objects
in the Upper Scorpius association is similar to that of stars,
consistent with a common formation scenario. It is also similar to the
disk fractions observed in younger clusters, suggesting that the disk
lifetimes might be longer for ultracool dwarfs than for higher-mass
stars.
Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the Paranal
Observatories under program ID 075.C-0148.