Evolution of Young Brown Dwarf Disks in the Mid-Infrared

Abstract

We have imaged two bona-fide brown dwarfs with TReCS/GEMINI-S and find mid-infrared excess emission that can be explained by optically thick dust disk models. In the case of the young ($\approx$2Myr) Cha H$\alpha$1 we measure fluxes at 10.4$\mu$m and 12.3$\mu$m that are fully consistent with a standard flared disk model and prominent silicate emission. For the $\approx$ 10Myr old brown dwarf 2MASS1207-3932 located in the TW Hydrae association we find excess emission at 8.7$\mu$m and 10.4$\mu$m with respect to its photosphere, and confirm disk accretion as likely cause of its strong activity. Disks around brown dwarfs likely last at least as long as their low-mass stellar counterparts in the T-Tauri phase. Grain growth, dust settling, and evolution of the geometry of brown dwarfs disks may appear on a timescale of 10Myr and can be witnessed by observations in the mid-infrared.