Multiplicity Amongst Wide Brown Dwarf Companions to Nearby Stars: Gliese 337CD

Abstract

We present Lick Natural Guide Star Adaptive Optics observations of the L8 brown dwarf Gliese 337C, which is resolved for the first time into two closely separated (0"53+/-0"03), nearly equal magnitude components with a K_s flux ratio of 0.93+/-0.10. Companionship is inferred from the absence of a 3"6 offset source in 2MASS or photographic plate images, implying that the observed secondary component is a co-moving late-type dwarf. With a projected separation of 11 AU and nearly equal-magnitude components, Gliese 337CD has properties similar to other known companion and field substellar binaries. Its long orbital period (estimated to be ~140-180 yr) inhibits short-term astrometric mass measurements, but the Gliese 337CD system is ideal for studying the L/T transition at a fixed age and metallicity. From a compilation of all known widely separated (>~100 AU) stellar/brown dwarf multiple systems, we find evidence that the binary fraction of brown dwarfs in these systems is notably higher than that of field brown dwarfs, 45(+15)(-13)% versus 18(+7)(-4)% for analogous samples. We speculate on possible reasons for this difference, including the possibility that dynamic (ejection) interactions which may form such wide pairs preferentially retain binary secondaries due to their greater combined mass and/or ability to absorb angular momentum.

7 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in AJ, June 2005

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