Author Date

2024-03-15

Degree Name

Department

Physics and Astronomy

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Defense Date

2024-03-07

Publication Date

2024-03-15

First Faculty Advisor

Denise Stephens

First Faculty Reader

Benajmin Boizelle

Honors Coordinator

Karine Chesnel

Keywords

L dwarfs, infrared astronomy, spectroscopy

Abstract

Forward retrieval modeling is a powerful method for classifying brown dwarf atmospheres and their physical parameters. However, the results of this method are only as good as the models compared against the data. Silicates in the atmospheres of L-type brown dwarfs have been shown to cause model overfitting around $10 \mu m$, but it is not known what impact, if any, these silicates have on other portions of brown dwarf atmospheric spectra. I report a preliminary negative correlation between model overfitting at $10 \mu m$ and model underfitting from $3.5-4.25 \mu m$ using spectra from two L-dwarfs from JWST and seven L-dwarfs combined from NASA's IRTF telescope, the AKARI space telescope, and the Spitzer space telescope. I also report on the impact of combining spectra on forward retrieval modeling results and discuss the need for JWST data to further explore the strength and causes of this correlation.