We have discovered 10 wide low mass companions to main sequence stars through acommon proper motion search. We propose to obtain X-ray data of the primaries inorder to constrain the ages of the systems. Ages are needed to constrain themasses of the low mass companions, and determine whether they are low mass starsor brown dwarfs. Only a small fraction of ultracool dwarfs are found ascompanions to main sequence stars. The 10 new systems targeted here will becomebenchmark sources with well-determined fundamental properties such as mass, age,and distance. X-ray luminosities of the primaries will allow us to constrain theages. The properties of the low mass secondaries will provide vital informationfor models of brown dwarf and low mass star formation, atmospheres, and evolution.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-07-11T15:54:53Z/2010-01-04T04:47:32Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Prof Frederick Walter, 2011, 'Age-dating primary stars in a wide pair with ultracool dwarfs', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-bszbrun
