• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.73-75
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• 2005

The latest scientific highlights obtained with the Subaru telescope are given together with its current status and on-going instrumentation. We have been successfully operating the telescope and 8 observatory instruments (including an adaptive optics system) since January 1999, when the first light was accomplished. Open-use of Subaru began in December 2000. Subaru has a unique capability of its prime focus among other 8-10 meter class telescopes and has an excellent imaging performance as a result of its sophisticated active optics combined with the high stability of the sky at Mauna Kea. Scientific highlights are given on the discoveries of the most distant galaxies, spiral structure on a protoplanetary disk around AB Aur, and planetesimal belts in the debris disk around $\beta$ Pic. Brief summaries are given for three new instruments: the Multi-Object Infrared Camera and Spectrograph (MOIRCS), 188 element adaptive optics system, and Fiber Multi-Object Spectrograph (FMOS)

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.52.3-53
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• 2015

It has been known that there is "dark gas" invisible either in 21-cm HI or 2.6-mm CO emission which are general tracers of atomic and molecular gas, respectively. Many researchers consider that the dark gas is "Dark Molecular Gas (DMG)" composed of CO-free $H_2$ in the intermediate zone between atomic and full-fledged molecular gas and that HCO+ and OH molecules are good tracers of the DMG since they can form in much lower $H_2$ column densities where CO does not. We have carried out HCO+ J=1-0 absorption observations toward nine bright extragalactic radio continuum sources using the KVN 21-m telescopes as single dishes. We detected HCO+ absorption lines toward two sources. We derive HCO+ and $H_2$ column densities or their limits, and discuss the implications of our results.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.347-349
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• 2017

This paper reviews the legacy of the SPCIA Coronagraph Instrument (SCI) of which the primary scientific objective is the characterization of Jovian exoplanets by coronagraphic spectroscopy in the infrared. Studies on binary shaped pupil mask coronagraphs are described. Cryogenic active optics is discussed as another key technology. Then approaches to observing habitable zones in exoplanetary systems with a passively-cooled space infrared telescope are discussed. The SCI was dropped in a drastic change of the SPICA mission. However, its legacy is useful for space-borne infrared telescopes dedicated for use in exoplanetary science in the future, especially for studies of biomarkers.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.123-126
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• 2016

Microlensing is generally thought to probe planetary systems only out to a few Einstein radii. Microlensing events generated by bound planets beyond about 10 Einstein radii generally do not yield any trace of their hosts, and so would be classified as free floating planets (FFPs). I show that it is already possible, using adaptive optics (AO), to constrain the presence of potential hosts to FFP candidates at separations comparable to the Oort Cloud. With next-generation telescopes, planets at Kuiper-Belt separations can be probed. Next generation telescopes will also permit routine vetting for all FFP candidates, simply by obtaining second epochs 4-8 years after the event. At present, the search for such hosts is restricted to within the "confusion limit" of θ_confus ∼ 0.25′′, but future WFIRST (Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope) observations will allow one to probe beyond this confusion limit as well.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.57.3-58
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• 2017

Single Point Diamond Turning (SPDT) is a cost-effective technique to fabricate metallic mirrors. In particular, the servo-assisted diamond turning option is highly useful for the fabrication of freeform surfaces. However, the SPDT process leaves periodic tool marks on machined mirror surfaces, leading to undesirable diffraction effect, as well as the deviation of input beam. In order to solve this problem, we propose new SPDT machining conditions to minimize tool marks. We will also show the results from optical measurement and Power Spectral Density (PSD) analysis to evaluate the expectable performance for applications in wide field infrared telescopes.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.59.2-59.2
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• 2011

We introduce an ongoing project for monitoring total flux density at 22 and 43GHz, linearly polarized flux, and polarization angle at 22GHz of Gamma-ray bright AGN (Active Galactic Nuclei) with KVN (Korean VLBI Network) 21-m radio telescopes. The project started in May, 2011 with an effective monitoring cycle of 4 days, observing four main objects (3C 454.3, BL Lac, 3C 273, and 3C 279). More objects were included in the source list when they had flared in Gamma-ray. In this paper, we report the current status of the project and preliminary results for the monitoring observations.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.234.2-234.2
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• 2012

As the accuracy in the measurement of cosmological parameters is ever-increasing in this era of precision cosmology, astrophysical constraints on high-redshift universe is also getting tighter. Three dimensional (3D) tomography of the high-redshift (z>~7) universe is expected to be made through the next-generation radio telescopes including various SKA pathfinders and SKA itself, which calls for extensive theoretical predictions. We present our new simulations of cosmic reionization covering the full dynamic range of radiation sources, and also the mock data for the (1) large-scale CMB polarization anisotropy for Planck mission, (2) small-scale, kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect for South Pole Telescope project, and (3) 21-cm observations. We show that the new constraints on CMB from Planck will constrain the models of reionization significantly, which then should be tested by 3D tomography of high-redshift universe through the 21-cm observations by future radio telescopes.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.29.4-30
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• 2018

Welcome to Gemini! In this overview, I'll describe the governance, operations, and capabilities of the Gemini telescopes. I'll also describe Gemini's vision and plans for the future. Gemini is very adaptable and has multiple ways to apply for time, multiple ways to collect your data, and multiple instrument capabilities ready for your observations. Gemini also runs a wide-reaching program to develop and improve our instrumentation capabilities. We run an upgrade program for our existing instruments that includes an annual public call for proposals, a visitor instrument program that brings instruments like IGRINS to our telescopes for short to semi-permanent runs, and a facility program that provides entirely new instruments like GHOST and SCORPIO to Gemini for full public use. Through these programs, you can interact with Gemini in a number of ways to support your scientific needs in the most efficient way possible.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.35.3-35.3
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• 2019

The new era of multi-messenger astronomy (MMA) has arrived in 2017 with the detection of the binary neutron star merger in both gravitational wave (GW) and electromagnetic radiation (EM). Now, the new run of GW detectors are providing numerous GW events and the number GW events are expected to increase dramatically in future as the GW sensitivities improve. When the GW studies are combined with EM counterpart observations, a great synergy is expected in many areas of study such as the physical process following the compact object merger, the environment of such events (and galaxy evolution), and cosmology, Therefore, it has now become crucial to identify and characterize these GW events in optical/IR EM. In the past, we have been performing optical/NIR observation of GW events using a worldwide network of more than 10 telescopes, and are getting more actively involved in MMA of GW sources. In this talk, we will present our network of telescopes, the EM follow-up observation results of GW events including GW170817 and the O3 events in 2019, and the current issues in MMA. We will also give the future prospects of MMA, showing the forecast for the GW events and the outlook of EM MMA observations.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.60.2-60.2
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• 2019

Based on our experience on exoplanet transit observation, we propose the exoplanet science cases with Small Telescope Network. One is the follow-up observation for validation of exoplanet candidates. TESS(Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) is pouring out exoplanet candidates in bright stars(V<15) on all the sky. Since Small Telescope Network will consist of 0.5-1m telescopes, we will expect to produce promising outcomes from the follow-up observation of bright candidates. Next is the transit time observation. By spectroscopy of space and large telescopes during transit event, it can be possible to find the bio signatures in exoplanet atmosphere. So, in terms of cost, it is critical to determine the exact time of transit event. In addition, detecting the variation of transit time can reveal another exoplanet and exomoon in the system. In order to determine the transit time and its variation, the accumulation of transit event data is more important than the quality of photometric data. We expect that it can be a challenging project of Small Telescope Network.