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Brown dwarfs as close companions to white dwarfsThe influence of the radiation flux emitted by a white dwarf primary on the evolution of a closely orbiting brown dwarf (BD) companion is investigated. Full stellar evolutionary calculations are presented for both isolated and thermal bath cases, including effects of large variations in the atmospheric grain opacities. High grain opacities significantly increase the radii of the BDs, but the thermal bath does not. The major influence of the thermal bath is to increase substantially the surface temperature and luminosity of the BD at a given age. These results are compared with the observational properties of the possible BD companion of the white dwarf G29-38. Inclusion of both physical effects, high grain opacities and thermal bath, increases the mass range (0.034-0.063 solar masses) of viable models significantly, yet the final determination of whether the object is indeed a BD requires improvements in the observations of the system's properties.
Document ID
19900037459
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Stringfellow, Guy S.
(Lick Observatory Santa Cruz, CA, United States)
Bodenheimer, Peter
(Lick Observatory Santa Cruz, CA, United States)
Black, David C.
(Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters
Volume: 349
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
90A24514
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-85-21636
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-86-14510
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT-05-061-800
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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