Periodic photometric variability of the brown dwarf Kelu-1

We have detected a strong periodicity of 1.80+/-0.05 hours in photometric observations of the brown dwarf Kelu-1. The peak-to-peak amplitude of the variation is ~1.1% (11.9+/-0.8 mmag) in a 41nm wide filter centred on 857nm and including the dust/temperature sensitive TiO & CrH bands. We have identified two plausible causes of variability: surface features rotating into- and out-of-view and so modulating the light curve at the rotation period; or, elliposidal variability caused by an orbiting companion. In the first scenario, we combine the observed vsin(i) of Kelu-1 and standard model radius to determine that the axis of rotation is inclined at 65+/-12 degrees to the line of sight.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Final Report: 9-B English Service-learning Evaluation, Moorhead High School, Moorhead, Minnesota

Mark Jensen, English faculty at MHS offered his service-learning program for an evaluation. This evaluation was initiated by Jeanie Jacobs consequent to the conditions of a grant she received; the structure of this evaluation evolved over several team meetings between Jensen, Ann Larson (District 152 Director of Community Service-learning) and myself

Vsini-s for late-type stars from spectral synthesis in K-band region

We analyse medium-resolution spectra (R\sim 18000) of 19 late type dwarfs in order to determine vsini-s using synthetic rather than observational template spectra. For this purpose observational data around 2.2 $\mu$m of stars with spectral classes from G8V to M9.5V were modelled. We find that the Na I (2.2062 and 2.2090 $\mu$m) and $^{12}$CO 2-0 band features are modelled well enough to use for vsini determination without the need for a suitable observational template spectra. Within the limit of the resolution of our spectra, we use synthetic spectra templates to derive vsini values consistent with those derived in the optical regime using observed templates. We quantify the errors in our vsini determination due to incorrect choice of model parameters \Teff, log $g$, $v_{\rm micro}$, [Fe/H] or FWHM and show that they are typically less than 10 per cent. We note that the spectral resolution of our data(\sim 16 km/s) limited this study to relatively fast rotators and that resolutions of 60000 will required to access most late-type dwarfs.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, accepted to the MNRA

Exploring the Local Milky Way: M Dwarfs as Tracers of Galactic Populations

We have assembled a spectroscopic sample of low-mass dwarfs observed as part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey along one Galactic sightline, designed to investigate the observable properties of the thin and thick disks. This sample of ~7400 K and M stars also has measured ugriz photometry, proper motions, and radial velocities. We have computed UVW space motion distributions, and investigate their structure with respect to vertical distance from the Galactic Plane. We place constraints on the velocity dispersions of the thin and thick disks, using two-component Gaussian fits. We also compare these kinematic distributions to a leading Galactic model. Finally, we investigate other possible observable differences between the thin and thick disks, such as color, active fraction and metallicity.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, Accepted by A