POSTER PAPER 10.02
500 K and Below - Finding Ultracool Dwarfs with the UKIRT/WFCAM and VISTA Surveys
P.W. Lucas + UKIDSS Consortium + VISTA Consortium
Institute: University of Hertfordshire
Contact Email: pwl@star.herts.ac.uk
Abstract:
I describe the very large area infrared UKIRT surveys which
will begin in 2003 and their impact on the
field of brown dwarf searches. These surveys will reach
K=19
and survey on the order of 20% of the sky. Present plans are
for ZJHK imaging, with repeats in J or K to detect proper
motions. It is expected that brown dwarfs in the 400-500 K
range will be detected, possibly reaching the threshold at
which liquid water droplet clouds will form in the upper
atmosphere. Some planetary mass 'sub-brown dwarfs' may also
be detected if any exist within 10 parsecs. These surveys
form natural successors to 2MASS, DENIS and SLOAN. The 4-m
VISTA telescope will conduct similar surveys in the southern
hemisphere beginning around 2005-6.
Index Keywords: Brown Dwarfs; Surveys; Instrumentation
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Manuscript submitted: 2001-Sep-03
"The Future of Cool-Star Astrophysics", 2003, Eds. A. Brown,
G. M. Harper, & T. R. Ayres.
Proceedings of 12th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems,
& The Sun,
© 2003 University of Colorado.