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Brown Dwarfs in the Alpha Persei Cluster

2003; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 211; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0074180900210498

2352-2186

J. R. Stauffer, D. Barrado, J. Bouvier, N. Lodieu, M. J. McCaughrean,

Spectroscopy and Laser Applications

We have obtained a new, deep, wide-field optical imaging survey of the young Alpha Persei cluster which reveals a well-populated lower main sequence extending into the substellar mass regime. Subsequent infrared photometry confirms that most of the candidate brown dwarfs are indeed likely to be cluster members, with a predicted minimum mass of order 0.035 solar masses. We have combined the new candidate list with previous member catalogs to derive an IMF for Alpha Per; the slope of the IMF at the low mass end is α ~ 0.66. The Alpha Per IMF slope is thus very similar to that found in the Pleiades.