HD 19467B: Old and Cold T Class Brown Dwarf Around a G Class Star

THE TRENDS HIGH-CONTRAST IMAGING SURVEY. V. DISCOVERY OF AN OLD AND COLD BENCHMARK T-DWARF ORBITING THE NEARBY G-STAR HD 19467

Authors:

Crepp et al

Abstract:

The nearby Sun-like star HD 19467 shows a subtle radial velocity (RV) acceleration of −1.37  ±  0.09 m s−1 yr−1 over a 16.9 yr time baseline (an RV trend), hinting at the existence of a distant orbiting companion. We have obtained high-contrast images of the star using NIRC2 at Keck Observatory and report the direct detection of the body that causes the acceleration. The companion, HD 19467 B, is ΔKs = 12.57 ± 0.09 mag fainter than its parent star (contrast ratio of 9.4 × 10−6), has blue colors J − Ks = −0.36 ± 0.14 (J − H = −0.29 ± 0.15), and is separated by ρ = 1farcs653 ± 0farcs004 (51.1 ± 1.0 AU). Follow-up astrometric measurements obtained over a 1.1 yr time baseline demonstrate physical association through common parallactic and proper motion. We calculate a firm lower-limit of for the companion mass from orbital dynamics using a combination of Doppler observations and imaging. We estimate a model-dependent mass of from a gyrochronological age of Gyr. Isochronal analysis suggests a much older age of 9 ± 1 Gyr, which corresponds to a mass of . HD 19467 B's measured colors and absolute magnitude are consistent with a late T dwarf [≈T5-T7]. We may infer a low metallicity of [Fe/H] =−0.15 ± 0.04 for the companion from its G3V parent star. HD 19467 B is the first directly imaged benchmark T dwarf found orbiting a Sun-like star with a measured RV acceleration.