Title

Discs of planetary-mass objects in sigma Orionis

Authors

Authors

M. R. Z. Osorio; J. A. Caballero; V. J. S. Bejar; R. Rebolo; D. B. Y. Navascues; G. Bihain; J. Eisloffel; E. L. Martin; C. A. L. Bailer-Jones; R. Mundt; T. Forveille;H. Bouy

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Astron. Astrophys.

Keywords

galaxy : open clusters and associations : individual : sigma Orionis; stars : planetary systems : protoplanetary disks; stars : low mass; brown dwarfs; SPITZER-SPACE-TELESCOPE; BROWN DWARFS; CIRCUMSTELLAR DISK; UPPER; SCORPIUS; T-DWARFS; H-ALPHA; PHOTOMETRY; CLUSTER; STARS; IRAC; Astronomy & Astrophysics

Abstract

Aims. We searched for infrared flux excesses of planetary-mass candidates in the sigma Orionis cluster (similar to 3 Myr, similar to 350 pc). Methods. Using IJHK(s) data from the literature and the [ 3.6], [ 4.5], [ 5.8], and [ 8.0] IRAC images of the sigma Orionis cluster from the Spitzer Space Telescope public archives, we constructed colour-colour diagrams and spectral energy distributions from 0.8 to 8.0 mu m of cluster candidates fainter than J=18.0 mag, i.e. the planetary-mass borderline for sigma Orionis. Results. Infrared flux excesses are detected longward of 5 mu m in seven objects (SOri 54, 55, 56, 58, 60, SOri J053956.8-025315 and SOri J053858.6- 025228) with masses estimated in the range 7-14 M(Jup). Emission at shorter wavelengths ( 4.5 mu m) in excess of the photosphere is probably observed in SOri 56 and SOri J053858.6-025228. The faintest and least massive object, SOri 60, exhibits flux excess only at 8 mu m. We ascribe these infrared excesses to the presence of circumsubstellar warm discs, providing additional confirmation for the objects' membership of sigma Orionis. The observed incidence of inner discs around planetary-mass objects is > = 50%,which is consistent with the measured inner disc frequency among cluster brown dwarfs and low-mass stars, suggesting that these objects share a common origin. However, there is a trend for the inner disc rate to increase with decreasing mass ( from 10 M(circle dot) through the substellar domain), which may be due to a mass-dependent timescale for the dissipation of the interior discs.

Journal Title

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Volume

472

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

L9

Last Page

L12

WOS Identifier

WOS:000249758200003

ISSN

0004-6361

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