The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Spectroscopic orbits of nine M-dwarf multiple systems, including two triples, two brown dwarf candidates, and one close M-dwarf-white dwarf binary

Baroch, D.; Morales, J. C.; Ribas, I.; Béjar, V. J. S.; Reffert, S.; Cardona Guillén, C.; Reiners, A.; Caballero, J. A.; Quirrenbach, A.; Amado, P. J.; Anglada-Escudé, G.; Colomé, J.; Cortés-Contreras, M.; Dreizler, S.; Galadí-Enríquez, D.; Hatzes, A. P.; Jeffers, S. V.; Henning, Th.; Herrero, E.; Kaminski, A.; Kürster, M.; Lafarga, M.; Lodieu, N.; López-González, M. J.; Montes, D.; Pallé, E.; Perger, M.; Pollacco, D.; Rodríguez-López, C.; Rodríguez, E.; Rosich, A.; Schöfer, P.; Schweitzer, A.; Shan, Y.; Tal-Or, L.; Zechmeister, M.
Bibliographical reference

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Advertised on:
9
2021
Number of authors
36
IAC number of authors
4
Citations
16
Refereed citations
15
Description
Context. M dwarfs are ideal targets for the search of Earth-size planets in the habitable zone using the radial velocity method, and are attracting the attention of many ongoing surveys. One of the expected results of these surveys is that new multiple-star systems have also been found. This is the case also for the CARMENES survey, thanks to which nine new double-line spectroscopic binary systems have already been announced.
Aims: Throughout the five years of the survey the accumulation of new observations has resulted in the detection of several new multiple-stellar systems with long periods and low radial-velocity amplitudes. Here we newly characterise the spectroscopic orbits and constrain the masses of eight systems and update the properties of a system that we had reported earlier.
Methods: We derived the radial velocities of the stars using two-dimensional cross-correlation techniques and template matching. The measurements were modelled to determine the orbital parameters of the systems. We combined CARMENES spectroscopic observations with archival high-resolution spectra from other instruments to increase the time span of the observations and improve our analysis. When available, we also added archival photometric, astrometric, and adaptive optics imaging data to constrain the rotation periods and absolute masses of the components.
Results: We determined the spectroscopic orbits of nine multiple systems, eight of which are presented for the first time. The sample is composed of five single-line binaries, two double-line binaries, and two triple-line spectroscopic triple systems. The companions of two of the single-line binaries, GJ 3626 and GJ 912, have minimum masses below the stellar boundary, and thus could be brown dwarfs. We found a new white dwarf in a close binary orbit around the M star GJ 207.1, located at a distance of 15.79 pc. From a global fit to radial velocities and astrometric measurements, we were able to determine the absolute masses of the components of GJ 282 C, which is one of the youngest systems with measured dynamical masses.
Related projects
Discovery of a system of super-Earths orbiting the star HD 176986 with about 5.7 and 9.2 Earth masses.
Very Low Mass Stars, Brown Dwarfs and Planets

Our goal is to study the processes that lead to the formation of low mass stars, brown dwarfs and planets and to characterize the physical properties of these objects in various evolutionary stages. Low mass stars and brown dwarfs are likely the most numerous type of objects in our Galaxy but due to their low intrinsic luminosity they are not so

Rafael
Rebolo López
Projects' name image
Exoplanets and Astrobiology

The search for life in the universe has been driven by recent discoveries of planets around other stars (known as exoplanets), becoming one of the most active fields in modern astrophysics. The growing number of new exoplanets discovered in recent years and the recent advance on the study of their atmospheres are not only providing new valuable

Enric
Pallé Bago