Tidal parameters of brown dwarfs (Q and k2)

Determine the tidal quality factor Q and the Love number k2 for brown dwarfs to constrain tidal dissipation and induced precession rates, thereby enabling robust dynamical modeling of systems such as Gliese 229 Ba–Bb.

Background

In evaluating whether Kozai-Lidov oscillations operate in the Gliese 229 A–BaBb triple system, the authors need tidal parameters (Q and k2) for brown dwarfs to compute precession rates and tidal effects.

Due to the lack of direct constraints, the paper adopts Jupiter-like values, but explicitly notes that the exact brown dwarf parameters are unknown, underscoring a key uncertainty affecting the interpretation of the system’s secular dynamics.