| Name: | Belinda Damian |
| Affiliation: | University of St Andrews, UK |
| Conference ID: | ASI2025_130 |
| Title: | From stars to brown dwarfs: A journey through diverse star forming worlds |
| Authors: | Belinda Damian 1,2, Jessy Jose 3, Sreeja S Kartha 2 |
| Authors Affiliation: | 1 SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK
2 Department of Physics and Electronics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Hosur Road, Bengaluru 560029, India
3 Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Yerpedu, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, 517619, India |
| Mode of Presentation: | Oral |
| Abstract Category: | Thesis |
| Abstract: | The formation and evolution of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs is an intricate process orchestrated by the environmental conditions in which they form. While low-mass stars are a dominant product of the star formation process, brown dwarfs occupy a unique position, bridging the gap between low-mass stars and planets. Identifying and exploring these cool objects aids in understanding their dominant formation mechanism and tracing the very low-mass end of the initial mass function (IMF). In this thesis, we explore substellar objects across diverse environments from nearby low-mass clusters to distant feedback-driven massive regions. Using a novel water-band photometry technique, we identify ultra-cool dwarfs with high efficacy, verified through follow-up spectroscopy with facilities like IRTF-SpeX and GTC-EMIR. We also use deep multiband photometry from various facilities, including DOT-ADFOSC, to compare wide-wavelength SEDs with atmospheric models. Spanning a broad mass range, we probe the IMF down to the planetary regime and find its form consistent across environments. Additionally, we analyze the properties of disks around young stellar objects by examining their distribution relative to ionizing sources and their dependence on host star properties. Our findings confirm that feedback from massive stars affects disk evolution and that UV radiation field strength dictates the extent of this influence. In dissecting the formation and evolution of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs across varied environments, this thesis advances our understanding of IMF behavior, brown dwarf formation, and disk evolution, providing a crucial link to planetary formation around low-mass objects. |
