• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.48.1-48.1
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• 2013

It is known that the diffuse $H{\alpha}$ emission outside of bright H II regions not only are very extended, but also can occur in distinct patches or filaments far from H II regions, and the line ratios of [S II] ${\lambda}6716/H{\alpha}$ and [N II] ${\lambda}6583/H{\alpha}$ observed far from bright H II regions are generally higher than those in the H II regions. These observations have been regarded as evidence against the dust-scattering origin of the diffuse $H{\alpha}$ emission (including other optical lines), and the effect of dust scattering has been neglected in studies on the diffuse $H{\alpha}$ emission. However, as opposed to the previous contention, the expected dust-scattered $H{\alpha}$ halos surrounding H II regions are, in fact, in good agreement with the observed $H{\alpha}$ morphology. We find that the observed line ratios of [S II]/$H{\alpha}$, [N II]/$H{\alpha}$, and He I ${\lambda}5876/H{\alpha}$ in the diffuse ISM accord well with the dust-scattered halos around H II regions, which are photoionized by late O- and/or early B-type stars. We also demonstrate that the $H{\alpha}$ absorption feature in the underlying continuum from the dust-scattered starlight ("diffuse galactic light") and unresolved stars is able to substantially increase the [S II]/$H{\alpha}$ and [N II]/$H{\alpha}$ line ratios in the diffuse ISM.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.33.2-33.2
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• 2009

Diffuse ionized gas (DIG or warm ionized medium, WIM) outside traditional regions is a major component of the interstellar medium (ISM) not only in our Galaxy, but also in other galaxies. It is generally believed that major fraction of the Halpha emission in the DIG is provided by OB stars. In the "standard" photoionization models, the Lyman continuum photons escaping from bright H II regions is the dominant source responsible for ionizing the DIG. Then, a complex density structure must provide the low-density paths that allow the photons to traverse kiloparsec scales and ionize the gas far from the OB stars not only at large heights above the midplane, but also within a galactic plane. Here, I present Monte-Carlo models to examine the propagation of the ionizing radiation leaked out of traditional H II regions into the diffuse ISM applied to two face-on spirals M 51 and NGC 7424. We find that the "standard" scenario requires absorption too unrealistically small to be believed, but the obtained scale-height of the galactic disk is consistent with those of edge-on galaxies. We also report that the probability density functions of the Halpha intensities of the DIG and H II regions in the galaxies are log-normal, indicating the turbulence property of the ISM.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.73.5-73.5
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• 2019

Studying the amount and kinematics of circumand intergalactic medium (CGM and IGM) is key to understanding the role of feedback and environment (cold streams and galactic winds) in the evolution of galaxies. In particular, $Ly{\alpha}$ emission line has been utilized to investigate the density structure and kinematics of the (most abundant) H I gas in the CGM and IGM around galaxies. Therefore, modeling $Ly{\alpha}$ radiative transfer through multiphase interstellar medium (ISM), CGM and IGM is crucial in understanding the galaxy evolution. As discussed in Kakiichi & Dijkstra (2018), most $Ly{\alpha}$ RT effects would occur on interstellar scales. This is because the main source of $Ly{\alpha}$ photons would be H II regions, which are in most cases, if not all, surrounded by "cold" photo-dissociation regions. However, most $Ly{\alpha}$ RT studies have been performed in the CGM and IGM environments with T ~ 10,000K. In this talk, we present how the $Ly{\alpha}$ RT effect in the cold ISM with T ~ 100 K regulates the $Ly{\alpha}$ spectral properties.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2007

We present wide-field $JHK_s$-band photometric observations of the three compact H II regions G48.9-0.3, G49.0-0.3, and G49.2-0.3 in the active star-forming region W51B. The star clusters inside the three compact H II regions show the excess number of stars in the $J-K_s$ histograms compared with reference fields. While the mean color excess ratio $(E_{J-H}/E_{H-K_s})$ of the three compact H II regions are similar to ${\sim}2.07$, the visual extinctions toward them are somewhat different: ${\sim}17$ mag for G48.9-0.3 and G49.0-0.3; ${\sim}23$ mag for G49.2-0.3. Based on their sizes and brightnesses, we suggest that the age of each compact H II region is ${\leq}2\;Myr$. The inferred total stellar mass, ${\sim}1.4{\times}10^4M_{\odot}$, of W51B makes it one of the most active star forming regions in the Galaxy with the star formation efficiency of ${\sim}10%$.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.179-185
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• 2014

We study the physical and chemical properties of the molecular clump hosting a young stellar cluster, IRAS 20160+3636, which is believed to have formed via the "collect and collapse" process. Physical parameters of the UC H II region associated with the embedded cluster are measured from the radio continuum observations. This source is found to be a typical Galactic UC H II region, with a B0.5 type exciting star, if it is ionized by a single star. We derive a CN/HCN abundance ratio larger than 1 over this region, which may suggest that this clump is being affected by the UV radiation from the H II region.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.281-284
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• 2004

Optical imaging and spectroscopy of G353.2+0.9, the brightest part of the giant H II region NGC 6357, shows that this H II region is optically thin, contains ${\~}300\;M_{\bigodot}$ of ionized gas and is probably expanding into the surrounding medium. Its chemical composition is similar to that found in other H II regions at similar galactocentric distances if temperature fluctuations are significant. The inner regions are probably made of thin shells and filaments, whereas extended slabs of material, maybe shells seen edge-on, are found in the periphery. The radio continuum and H$\alpha$ emission maps are very similar, indicating that most of the optical nebula is not embedded in the denser regions traced by molecular gas and the presence of IR sources. About $10^{50}$ UV photons per second are required to produce the H$\beta$ flux from the 1l.3'${\times}$10' region surrounding the Pis 24 cluster that is south of G353.2+0.9. Most of the energy powering this region is produced by the 03-7 stars in Pis 24. Most of the 2MASS sources in the field with large infrared excesses are within G353.2+0.9, indicating that the most recent star forming process occured within it. The formation of Pis 24 preceded and caused the formation of this new generation of stars and may be responsible for the present-day morphology of the entire NGC 6357 region.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.193-197
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• 2004

Anomalies in the far-infrared [C II] 158 ${\mu}m$ line emission observed in the central one-kiloparsec regions of spiral galaxies are reviewed. Low far-infrared intensity ratios of the [C II] line to the continuum were observed in the center of the Milky Way, because the heating ratio of the gas to the dust is reduced by the soft interstellar radiation field due to late-type stars in the Galactic bulge. In contrast, such low line-to-continuum ratios were not obtained in the center of the nearby spiral M31, in spite of its bright bulge. A comparison with numerical simulations showed that a typical column density of the neutral interstellar medium between illuminating sources at $hv {\~} 1 eV $ is $N_H {\le}10^{21}\;cm^{-2}$ in the region; the medium is translucent for photons sufficiently energetic to heat the grains but not sufficiently energetic to heat the gas. This interpretation is consistent with the combination of the extremely high [C Il]/CO J = 1-0 line intensity ratios and the low recent star-forming activity in the region; the neutral interstellar medium is not sufficiently opaque to protect the species even against the moderately intense incident UV radiation. The above results were unexpected from classical views of the [C II] emission, which was generally considered to trace intense interstellar UV radiation enhanced by active star formation.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2005

We have conducted observations toward the molecular cloud associated with the H II region Sh 156 in $^{13}CO$(J = 1-0), $C^{18}O$(J = 1-0), and CS(J = 2 -1) using the TRAO 14 m telescope. Combining with existing $^{12}CO$(J = 1- 0) data of the Outer Galaxy Survey, we delineated the physical properties of the cloud. We found that there is a significant sign of interaction between the H II region and the molecular gas. We estimated the masses of the molecular cloud, using three different techniques; the most plausible mass is estimated to be $1.37 {\times} 10^5 M_{\bigodot}$, using a conversion factor of $X = 1.9 {\times} 10^{20}\;cm^{-2} (K\;km\;s^{-1})^{-1}$, and this is similar to virial mass estimate. This implies that the cloud is gravitationally bound and in virial equilibrium even though it is closely associated with the H II region. In addition to existing outflow, we found several MSX and IRAS point sources associated with dense core regions. Thus, more star forming activities other than the existing H II region are also going on in this region.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2017

A wide spectral coverage from near-infrared (NIR) to far-infrared (FIR) of AKARI both for imaging and spectroscopy enables us to efficiently study the emission from gas and dust in the interstellar medium (ISM). In particular, the Infrared Camera (IRC) onboard AKARI offers a unique opportunity to carry out sensitive spectroscopy in the NIR ($2-5{\mu}m$) for the first time from a spaceborn telescope. This spectral range contains a number of important dust bands and gas lines, such as the aromatic and aliphatic emission bands at 3.3 and $3.4-3.5{\mu}m$, $H_2O$ and $CO_2$ ices at 3.0 and $4.3{\mu}m$, CO, $H_2$, and H I gas emission lines. In this paper we concentrate on the aromatic and aliphatic emission and ice absorption features. The balance between dust supply and destruction suggests significant dust processing taking place as well as dust formation in the ISM. Detailed analysis of the aromatic and aliphatic bands of AKARI observations for a number of H ii regions and H ii region-like objects suggests processing of carbonaceous dust in the ISM. The ice formation process can also be studied with IRC NIR spectroscopy efficiently. In this review, dust processing in the ISM divulged by recent analysis of AKARI data is discussed.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.97-101
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• 2007

We are often faced with the task of having to estimate the hydrogen and helium ionizing luminosities of massive stars in the study of H II regions and the warm ionized medium (WIM). Using the results of the most complete compilation of stellar parameters (the effective temperature, stellar radius and surface gravity) and the latest Kurucz stellar atmosphere models, we calculate the ionizing photon luminosities in the $H^0\;and\;He^0$ continua from O3 to B5 stars. We compared the theoretical Lyman-continuum luminosity with the observationally inferred luminosity of the H II region around ${\alpha}$ Vir, and found that the theoretical value is higher than the observed value in contrast to the eariler result.