Multiwaveband photometry of the irradiated brown dwarf WD0137-349B

Abstract

WD0137−349 is a white dwarf–brown dwarf binary system in a 116 min orbit. We present radial velocity observations and multiwaveband photometry from V, R and I in the optical, to J, H and Ks in the near-IR and [3.6], [4.5], [5.8] and [8.0] μm in the mid-IR. The photometry and light curves show variability in all wavebands, with the amplitude peaking at [4.5] μm, where the system is also brightest. Fluxes and brightness temperatures were computed for the heated and unheated atmosphere of the brown dwarf (WD0137−349B) using synthetic spectra of the white dwarf using model atmosphere simulations. We show that the flux from the brown dwarf dayside is brighter than expected in the Ks and [4.5] μm bands when compared to models of irradiated brown dwarfs with full energy circulation and suggest this overluminosity may be attributed to H2 fluorescence or H+3 being generated in the atmosphere by the UV irradiation.