Search for nearby ultra-cool brown dwarfs

The advancement in the large optical and near-infrared detector technology follows Moore's law, and new wide field surveys will reveal our coolest neighbours: brown dwarfs which are compact objects whose small mass prevents them to sustain hydrogen burning as stars do. After their initial contraction phase they cool down. The coolest known objects have temperatures of 600K and are located at a few dozen light-years.

We have started searching for cool brown dwarfs in public surveys. To confirm and study the candidates, we perform follow-up photometry and astrometry using a 7-channel simultaneous imager on the ESO/MPG 2.2m telescope. In this project, the student will use an existing reduction pipeline to analyse the multi-band images, characterise the instrument and confirm our candidates.

Some knowledge in computing (LINUX, python) would be useful, knowledge of astronomy and data analysis is not necessary. Minimal duration: 1 month. The project is available immediately, and could be extended into a Diploma thesis project.

For more information contact B. Goldman: goldman_at_mpia.de; tel. 06221-528-260.