Title:

Finding and Characterizing Young Brown Dwarfs



Katelyn Allers
IfA



Abstract:

Young, free-floating objects with masses comparable to those
of extrasolar planets have been difficult to find and even
more difficult to confirm.  Using deep I, J, H and Ks
imaging along with mid-IR observations from the Spitzer
Space Telescope, I have identified a sample of young brown
dwarfs showing mid-IR excess from circumstellar disks.  Our
sample includes some of the lowest mass brown dwarfs
discovered to date, with possible masses as low as 6
M_Jupiter.  I will discuss the properties of the
circumstellar disks around our young brown dwarfs and the
implication of our survey on current atmospheric models of
young brown dwarfs as well as theories of brown dwarf
formation.