• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.51.4-52
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• 2017

We present the derived kinematic characteristics of low-${\alpha}$ thin-disk and high-${\alpha}$ thick-disk stars in the Milky Way, investigated with a sample of about 33,900 G- and K-type dwarfs from the Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SEGUE). Based on the level of ${\alpha}$-element enhancement as a function of [Fe/H], we separate our sample into thin- and thick-disk stars and then derive mean velocity, velocity dispersion, and velocity gradients for the U, V and W velocity components, respectively, as well as the orbital eccentricity distribution. There are notable gradients in the V velocity over [Fe/H] in both populations: -23 km s-1 dex-1 for the thin disk and +44 km s-1 dex-1 for the thick disk. The velocity dispersion of the thick disk decrease with increasing [Fe/H], while the velocity.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.55.1-55.1
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• 2017

A number of recent studies have claimed that the double red clump observed in the Milky Way bulge is a consequence of an X-shaped structure. In particular, Ness & Lang (2016) report a direct detection of a faint X-shaped structure in the bulge from the residual map of the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) image. Here we show, however, that their result is seriously affected by a bulge model subtracted from the original image. When a boxy bulge model is subtracted, instead of a simple exponential bulge model as has been done by Ness & Lang, we find that most of the X-shaped structure in the residuals disappears. Furthermore, even if real, the stellar density in the claimed X-shaped structure appears to be too low to be observed as a strong double red clump at $l=0^{\circ}$

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.66.4-67
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• 2016

Our recent investigation (Lee et al. 2015) suggests that the presence of double red clump in the Milky Way bulge is another manifestation of multiple populations observed in halo globular clusters. The origin of Helium enhancement in the 2nd generation population (G2), however, is not yet fully understood. Here we investigate the origin of this super-Helium-rich population in the framework of self-enrichment scenario. We find that chemical enrichments and pollutions by asymptotic giant branch stars and winds of massive rotating stars can naturally reproduce the observed Helium enhancement. The Helium to metal enrichment ratio appears to be ${\Delta}Y/{\Delta}Z=6$ for G2, while the standard ratio, ${\Delta}Y/{\Delta}Z=2$, is appropriate for G1, which is probably enriched mostly by typeII supernovae.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.32.3-32.3
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• 2016

The presence of multiple stellar populations is now well established in most globular clusters in the Milky Way. Here we show that two populations of RR Lyrae stars and the double red clump observed in the Milky Way bulge are another manifestations of the same multiple population phenomenon observed in halo globular clusters. We will discuss the implications of this result on the stellar populations and formation of early-type galaxies.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.68.2-68.2
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• 2019

Chemical abundance ratios of ultra metal-poor (UMP; [Fe/H] < -4.0) stars can provide important constraints on the early chemical enrichment of the Milky Way (MW), associated with the nucleosynthesis processes that occurred during the evolution of their progenitors, which are presumably the first generation of stars. Despite their importance, only about thirty UMP stars have been discovered thus far. In an effort to identify such stars additionally, we selected UMP candidates from low-resolution (R ~ 2000) spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), and obtained with Gemini/GRACES high-resolution (R ~ 40,000) spectra of 15 UMP candidates. In this study, we present the results of the chemical abundance analysis of the UMP candidates. Furthermore, we compare the abundance patterns of our UMP stars with those of various metal-poor stars from literature to understand the early chemical evolution of the MW.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.50.1-50.1
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• 2019

Ultra Metal-Poor (UMP; [Fe/H] < -4.0) stars are thought to be true second generation of stars. Thus, the chemistry and kinematics of these stars serve as powerful tools to understand the early evolution of the Milky Way (MW). However, only about 40 of these stars have been discovered thus far. To increase the number of these stars, we selected UMP candidates from low-resolution spectra (R ~ 2000) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), and performed high-resolution (R ~ 40,000) spectroscopic follow-ups with Gemini/GARACES. In this study, we present chemical and kinematic properties of the observed UMP candidates, and infer the nature of their progenitors to trace the chemical enrichment history of the MW.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.37.2-37.2
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• 2019

To study the effects of central mass concentration on the formation and evolution of galactic bars, we run fully self-consistent simulations of Milky Way-sized, isolated galaxies with initial classical bulges. We let the mass of a classical bulge mass less than 20% of the total disk mass, and vary the central concentration of a dark matter halo. We find that both classical bulge and halo concentration delay the bar formation and weaken the bar strength. The presence of a bulge increases the initial rotational velocity near the center and hence the bar pattern speed. Bars in galaxies with a more concentrated halo slowdown relatively rapidly as they lose their angular momentum through interaction with the halo. In some of our models, bars do not experience slowdown at the expense of the decrease in their moment of inertia as the bar evolves, with the resulting pattern speed similar to that of the bar in the Milky Way.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.59.1-59.1
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• 2020

Extremely metal-poor (EMP; [Fe/H] < -3.0) stars are thought to be genuine second-generation of stars because they were born from relatively pristine gas chemically enriched by one or two supernovae. So, the EMP stars presumably originated from outside the Milky Way (MW) are important tracers for the early chemical evolution and assembly history of the MW. In this study, we present the preliminary results on the early assembly history of the MW inferred by associating the dynamical properties of our EMP stars with those of known substructures in the MW. We also explore the star formation history of the progenitor galaxies of our EMP stars by investigating the elemental abundances of the EMP stars associated with the substructure.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.48.3-49
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• 2021

We study the process of panspermia in Milky Way-like galaxies by modeling the probability of successful travel of organic compounds between stars harboring potentially habitable planets. To this end, we apply the modified habitability recipe of Gobat & Hong (2016) to a model galaxy from the MUGS suite of zoom-in cosmological simulations. We find that, unlike habitability, which only occupies narrow dynamic range over the entire galaxy, the panspermia probability can vary be orders of magnitude between the inner (R, b = 1~4 kpc) and outer disk. However, only a small fraction of star particles have very large values of panspermia probability and, consequently, the fraction of star particles where the panspermia process is more effective than prebiotic evolution is much lower than from naïve expectations based on the ratio between panspermia probability and natural habitability. The lunar surface progressively darkens and reddens as a result of sputtering from solar wind particles and bombardment of micrometeoroids. The extent of exposure to these space weathering agents is frequently calculated as the location in a diagram of reflectance at 750 nm

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.27.1-27.1
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• 2021

I will describe the current progress within the Fifth Generation of SDSS. SDSS-V is an unprecedented all-sky spectroscopic survey of over six million objects. It is designed to decode the history of the Milky Way galaxy, trace the emergence of the chemical elements, reveal the inner workings of stars, and investigate the origin of planets. It will provide the most comprehensive all-sky spectroscopy to multiply the science from the Gaia, TESS and eROSITA missions. SDSS will also create a contiguous spectroscopic map of the interstellar gas in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies that is 1,000 times larger than the state of the art, uncovering the self-regulation mechanisms of galactic ecosystems. It will pioneer systematic, spectroscopic monitoring across the whole sky, revealing changes on timescales from 20 minutes to 20 years. I will highlight key areas of current scientific and technical development as well as opportunities to participate in the survey underway.