An ALMA Survey of M-dwarfs in the Beta Pictoris Moving Group with two new debris disc detections

Patrick F. Cronin-Coltsmann, Grant M. Kennedy, Quentin Kral, Jean François Lestrade, Sebastian Marino, Luca Matrà, Mark C. Wyatt

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer)Articlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Previous surveys in the far-infrared have found very few, if any, M-dwarf debris discs among their samples. It has been questioned whether M-dwarf discs are simply less common than earlier types, or whether the low detection rate derives from the wavelengths and sensitivities available to those studies. The highly sensitive, long-wavelength Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) can shed light on the problem. This paper presents a survey of M-dwarf stars in the young and nearby Beta Pictoris Moving Group with ALMA at Band 7 (880 μm). From the observational sample, we detect two new sub-mm excesses that likely constitute unresolved debris discs around GJ 2006 A and AT Mic A and model distributions of the disc fractional luminosities and temperatures. From the science sample of 36 M-dwarfs including AU Mic, we find a disc detection rate of 4/36 or 11.1+−37.34 per cent that rises to 23.1+−58.53 per cent when adjusted for completeness. We conclude that this detection rate is consistent with the detection rate of discs around G- and K-type stars and that the disc properties are also likely consistent with earlier type stars. We additionally conclude that M-dwarf stars are not less likely to host debris discs, but instead their detection requires longer wavelength and higher sensitivity observations than have previously been employed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5401-5417
Number of pages17
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume526
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • circumstellar matter
  • stars: individual: GJ 2006A and AT Mic
  • submillimetre: planetary systems

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An ALMA Survey of M-dwarfs in the Beta Pictoris Moving Group with two new debris disc detections'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this