• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.71.2-71.2
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• 2011

한국천문연구원은 한일상관센터(Korea-Japan Correlation Center)에 2009년부터 한일공동 VLBI상관기(Korea-Japan Joint VLBI Correlator, KJJVC)를 설치하여 운영하고 있다. 한일공동VLBI상관기는 한국우주전파관측망(Korean VLBI Network, KVN), VERA(VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry), JVN(Japanese VLBI Network)을 연결하여 관측을 수행하고 동아시아 지역의 VLBI 관측망의 상관처리를 담당할 예정이다. 한일공동VLBI상관기 중에서 데이터동기재생처리장치(Raw VLBI Data Buffer, RVDB)와 관측데이터를 재생할 수 있는 재생기 시스템(Mark5B)간의 데이터 전송은 1Gbps 전송속도를 가지는 VSI(VLBI Standard Interface)규격의 전송케이블을 통하여 수행된다. 고속 데이터 전송에 있어 발생하는 전자기방해(Electromagnetic Interference, EMI)는 관측 데이터의 손실을 발생시키며, 이러한 고속데이터 전송간에 발생하는 EMI는 케이블의 길이가 길어질수록 많이 발생하게 되며 향후 상관기 시스템의 확장을 고려할 때 상당한 문제점을 초래 할 수 있다. 따라서, VSI규격의 통신에서 발생하는 EMI 노이즈 정도를 측정하고, 노이즈 제거 필터를 적용하여 데이터 손실을 최소화 할 수 있는 방안을 고려하였다. 본 발표에서는 한일공동VLBI상관기(KJJVC)에서 운용되는 고속재생기(Mark5B)와 RVDB간의 VSI방식의 데이터 전송에 있어 야기되는 EMI를 제거하고 관측 데이터의 손실을 최소화할 수 있는 방안을 제안한다.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.637-639
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• 2015

The Korean very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) network (KVN) and VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) Array (KaVA) is the first international VLBI array dedicated to high-frequency (23 GHz (K-band) and 43 GHz (Q-band)) observations in East Asia. To evaluate the imagine capability of KaVA, we performed imaging observations of three bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) known for their complex morphologies: 4C 39.25, 3C 273, and M87 by KaVA at K-/Q-band. Our KaVA images reveal extended outflows with complex substructure such as knots and limb brightening, in agreement with previous observations by other VLBI facilities. Angular resolutions are better than 1.4 and 0.8 milliarcsecond (max) at K-/Q-band, respectively. KaVA achieves a high dynamic range of ~1000, more than three times the value achieved by VERA. We conclude that KaVA is a powerful array with a great potential for the study of AGN outflows, at least comparable to the best existing radio interferometric arrays.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.633-636
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• 2015

KaVA (KVN and VERA Array) is a new combined VLBI array composed of KVN (Korean VLBI Network) and VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry). Here, we report the following two issues. (1) We review the initial results of imaging observations of M87 at 23 GHz following Niinuma et al. (2014). The KaVA images reveal extended outflows including complex substructures such as knots and limb-brightening, in agreement with previous VLBI observations. KaVA achieves a high dynamic range of ~1000, more than three times better than that achieved by VERA alone. (2) Based on subsequent observations and discussions led by the KaVA AGN SubWorking Group, we set monitoring observations of Sgr $A^{\ast}$ and M87 as our Key Science Project (hereafter KSP) because of the closeness and largeness of their central super-massive black holes. The main science goals of the KSP are (i) testing the magnetically-driven-jet paradigm by mapping velocity fields of the M87 jet, and (ii) obtaining tight constraints on physical properties of the radio emitting region in Sgr $A^{\ast}$. Towards KSP, we show the first preliminary images of M87 at 23 GHz and Sgr $A^{\ast}$ at 43 GHz with the bandwidth of 256 MHz.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.50.1-50.1
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• 2011

We report the results of the monitoring of a flaring gamma-ray blazar, 3C454.3 in total flux density at 22 and 43GHz and in polarization at 22GHz with KVN Ulsan 21-m radio telescope every 3-4 days from 19 November 2010 to 31 January 2011. After an extraordinary 5-day gamma-ray outburst in November 2010, the radio total flux density at 22/43GHz and the linear polarization at 22GHz has been decreased with a variation of a short time scale. In this paper, we also discuss a spectral change of 3C454.3 at 22 and 43GHz after the extraordinary gamma-ray outburst.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

The Crab nebula is widely used as a polarization angle calibrator for single-dish radio observations because of its brightness, high degree of linear polarization, and well-known polarization angle over a wide frequency range. However, the Crab nebula cannot be directly used as a polarization angle calibrator for single-dish observations with the Korean VLBI Network (KVN), because the beam size of the telescopes is smaller than the size of the nebula. To determine the polarization angle of the Crab nebula as seen by KVN, we use 3C 286, a compact polarized extragalactic radio source whose polarization angle is well-known, as a reference target. We observed both the Crab nebula and 3C 286 with the KVN from 2017 to 2021 and find that the polarization angles at the total intensity peak of the Crab nebula (equatorial coordinates (J2000) R.A. = 05^h34^m32.3804^s and Dec = 22°00'44.0982'') are 154.2° ± 0.3°, 151.0° ± 0.2°, 150.0° ± 1.0°, and 151.3° ± 1.1° at 22, 43, 86, and 94 GHz, respectively. We also find that the polarization angles at the pulsar position (RA = 05^h34^m31.971^s and Dec = 22°00'52.06'') are 154.4° ±0.4°, 150.7° ±0.4°, and 149.0° ± 1.0° for the KVN at 22, 43, and 86 GHz. At 129 GHz, we suggest to use the values 149.0° ± 1.6° at the total intensity peak and 150.2° ± 2.0° at the pulsar position obtained with the Institute for Radio Astronomy in the Millimeter Range (IRAM) 30-meter Telescope. Based on our study, both positions within the Crab nebula can be used as polarization angle calibrators for the KVN single-dish observations.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.187-198
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• 2009

In this work, we calculate drop in antenna gain, aperture phase distribution, and antenna pointing shift of KVN(Korean VLBI Network) 21m shaped Cassegrain antenna due to misalignments of antenna optics using ray-tracing method. The misalignments we considered are axial displacement of feed, axial displacement of sub-reflector, lateral displacement of feed, lateral displacement of sub-reflector, and sub-reflector tilt. Calculations are performed not only when these misalignments exist separately, but also when they exist at the same time. Although ray-tracing method is based on geometric optics which does not consider electromagnetic effects, we expect that this work enables us to align antenna optics which give the maximum gain.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2018

KVN(Korean VLBI Network) introduced the Mark6 system of the MIT haystack observatory as a recorder for data recording up to 32 Gbps for VLBI(Very Long Baseline Interferometry) observation. The Mark6 recorder can record data at up to 32Gbps when two systems and 64 HDDs are installed. However, because of the unique recording method that is characteristic of Mark6, we are introducing a large amount of data into a virtual file system, or using a general RAID method, which causes data loss when reading and transferring files at the highest recording speed or file system have. The Flexbuff system, a software recorder developed by JIVE(Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC), can be configured to operate as a data recorder through RAID configuration and network upgrades. In particular, when installed in the Mark6 system, it can record VLBI data at a maximum speed of 32 Gbps with less loss of data compared to the existing Mark6 by utilizing Mark6 resources well. In this paper, we propose that the existing Mark6 system can be operated as Mark6-Flexbuff by installing jive5ab software, and it is verified through experiment that it can be effectively used for VLBI observation operation through data recording test.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.51.1-51.1
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• 2019

At the commissioning phase of KVN from 2009 to 2013, single-dish survey and monitoring observations were performed toward about 1000 evolved stars and about 60 relatively strong SiO and H2O maser sources respectively. Based on these single-dish results and VLBI feasibility test observations at K/Q/W/D bands in 2014, KVN Key Science Project (KSP) has started from 2015 and will be completed in 2019 as KSP phase I. Here we present the overview of observational studies on evolved stars using KVN. In KSP phase I, we have focused on nine KSP sources which show a successful astrometrically registered maps of SiO and H2O masers using the source frequency phase referencing method. We aim at investigating the spatial structure and dynamical effect from 43/42/86/129 GHz SiO to 22 GHz H2O maser regions associated with a stellar pulsation and development of asymmetry in circumstellar envelopes. Using the combined network KaVA (KVN+Japanese VLBI network VERA), KaVA Large Program titled on "Expanded Study on Stellar Masers: ESTEMA Phase I" was performed from 2015 to 2016. Based on ESTEMA Phase I, EAVN Large Program titled on "EAVN Synthesis of Stellar Maser Animations: ESTEMA Phase II" was also performed from 2018. The ESTEMA II project aims to publish composite animations of circumstellar H2O and SiO masers, which taken from up to 6 long-period variable stars with a variety of the pulsation periods (333-1000 days). The animations will exhibit the three-dimensional kinematics of the maser gas clumps with complexity caused by stellar pulsation-driven shock waves and anisotropy of clump ejections from the stellar surface. Adding three EAVN telescopes (Tianma 65m, Nanshan 26m and NRO 45m telescopes) with KaVA always secures the high quality of the maser image frames through the monitoring program.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.71-80
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• 2012

We have developed superconducting mixer receivers for 129 GHz VLBI observation in Korean VLBI Network (KVN). The developed mixer has a radial waveguide probe with simple transmission line L-C transformer as a tuning circuit to its 5 series-connected junctions, which can have 125 - 165 GHz as the operation radio frequency (RF). For intermediate frequency (IF) signal path a high impedance quarter-wavelength line connects the probe to one end of symmetric RF chokes. The double side band (DSB) receiver noise of the mixer was about 40 K over 4 - 6 GHz IF band, whereas we achieved the uncorrected single side band (SSB) noise temperature of about 70 K and better than 10 dB image rejection ratio in 2SB configuration with 8 - 10 GHz IF band. Insert-type receiver cartridges employing the mixers have been under commission for KVN stations.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.51.2-51.2
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• 2019

As one of the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) Key Science Programs, the Interferometric Monitoring of Gamma-ray Bright AGNs (iMOGABA) aims to reveal the origins and nature of the gamma ray flares in active galactic nuclei (AGNi). Here we report a summary of activities and recent scientific results of the iMOGABA program, including statistical properties of the whole sample, as well as scientific highlights for the iMOGABA on specific sources. We also introduce future prospects and directions for the development and expansion of iMOGABA.