• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.353-356
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• 2012

We present new constraints on the cosmic optical background (COB) obtained from an analysis of the Pioneer 10/11 Imaging Photopolarimeter (IPP) data. After careful examination of the data quality, the usable measurements free from the zodiacal light are integrated into sky maps at the blue (${\sim}0.44{\mu}m$) and red (${\sim}0.64{\mu}m$) bands. Accurate starlight subtraction was achieved by referring to all-sky star catalogs and a Galactic stellar population synthesis model down to 32.0 mag. We find that the residual light is separated into two components: one component shows a clear correlation with the thermal $100{\mu}m$ brightness, whilst the other shows a constant level in the lowest $100{\mu}m$ brightness region. The presence of the second component is significant after all the uncertainties and possible residual light in the Galaxy are taken into account, thus it most likely has an extragalactic origin (i.e., the COB). The derived COB brightness is ($(1.8{\pm}0.9){\times}10^{-9}$ and $(1.2{\pm}0.9){\times}10^{-9}\;erg\;s^{-1}\;cm^{-2}\;sr^{-1}\;{\AA}^{-1}$ in the blue and red spectral regions, respectively, or $7.9{\pm}4.0$ and $7.7{\pm}5.8\;nW\;m^{-2}\;sr^{-1}$. Based on a comparison with the integrated brightness of galaxies, we conclude that the bulk of the COB is comprised of normal galaxies which have already been resolved by the current deepest observations. There seems to be little room for contributions from other populations including "first stars" at these wavelengths. On the other hand, the first component of the IPP residual light represents the diffuse Galactic light (DGL)-scattered starlight by the interstellar dust. We derive the mean DGL-to-$100{\mu}m$ brightness ratios of $2.1{\times}10^{-3}$ and $4.6{\times}10^{-3}$ at the two bands, which are roughly consistent with previous observations toward denser dust regions. Extended red emission in the diffuse interstellar medium is also confirmed.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.93-107
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• 2016

Augmenting the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) microlensing campaigns with intensive observations from a ground-based network of wide-field survey telescopes would have several major advantages. First, it would enable full two-dimensional (2-D) vector microlens parallax measurements for a substantial fraction of low-mass lenses as well as planetary and binary events that show caustic crossing features. For a significant fraction of the free-floating planet (FFP) events and all caustic-crossing planetary/binary events, these 2-D parallax measurements directly lead to complete solutions (mass, distance, transverse velocity) of the lens object (or lens system). For even more events, the complementary ground-based observations will yield 1-D parallax measurements. Together with the 1-D parallaxes from WFIRST alone, they can probe the entire mass range M ≳ M_⊕. For luminous lenses, such 1-D parallax measurements can be promoted to complete solutions (mass, distance, transverse velocity) by high-resolution imaging. This would provide crucial information not only about the hosts of planets and other lenses, but also enable a much more precise Galactic model. Other benefits of such a survey include improved understanding of binaries (particularly with low mass primaries), and sensitivity to distant ice-giant and gas-giant companions of WFIRST lenses that cannot be detected by WFIRST itself due to its restricted observing windows. Existing ground-based microlensing surveys can be employed if WFIRST is pointed at lower-extinction fields than is currently envisaged. This would come at some cost to the event rate. Therefore the benefits of improved characterization of lenses must be weighed against these costs.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.64.2-64.2
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• 2016

Optical variability is one way to probe the nature of the central engine of AGN at smaller linear scales and previous studies have shown that optical variability is more prevalent at longer timescales and at shorter wavelengths. Especially, intra-night variability can be explained through the damped random walk model but small samples and inhomogeneous data have made constraining this model hard. To understand the properties and physical mechanism of optical variability, we are performing the KMTNet Active Nuclei Variability Survey (KANVaS). Test data of KMTNet in the COSMOS field was obtained over 2 separate nights during 2015, in B, V, R, and I bands. Each night was composed of 5 and 9 epochs with ~30 min cadence. To find AGN in the COSMOS field, we applied multi-wavelength selection methods. Different selection methods means we are looking different region in unification model of AGN, and 100~120, 400~500, 50~100 number of AGN are detected in X-ray, mid-infrared, and radio selection of AGN, respectively. We performed image convolution to reflect seeing fluctuation, then differential photometry between the selected AGN and nearby stars to achieve photometric uncertainty ~0.01mag. We employed one of the standard time-series analysis tools to identify variable AGN, chi-square test. Preliminarily results indicate that intra-night variability is found for X-ray selected, Type1 AGN are 23.6%, 26.4%, 21.3% and 20.7% in the B, V, R, and I band, respectively. The majority of the identified variable AGN are classified as Type 1 AGN, with only a handful of Type 2 AGN showing evidence for variability. The work done so far confirms that there are type and wavelength dependence of intra-night optical variability of AGN.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.67.2-67.2
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• 2010

We present results of searching for the Very Low Luminosity Objects (VeLLOs; internal luminosity : $L_{int}$ < $0.1(d/140pc)^2\;L\odot$) in the Gould's Belt clouds using observations from 3.6 to 70 micron by the Spitzer Space Telescope. The clouds are California, Chamaeleon I, III, Musca, Lupus V, VI, Scorpius, Serpens, Corona Australis, Cepheus, and IC 5146 having the properties of active low-mass star-forming such as the Taurus cloud. The observing sensitivity of the Spitzer data is estimated to be about $L_{int}\;\geq\;5\times10^{-3}(d/140pc)^2\;L\odot$, a factor of 20 better than that of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). The observing data were processed by the c2d Legacy pipeline. As the criteria to select the VeLLOs, we slightly modified previous ones by Dunham et al. The most important criterion is a flux density at 70 micron that is directly converted to the internal luminosity. Also, we used additional criteria to remove the contamination of evolved stars and extragalaxies which have colors or SEDs very similar to YSOs. We identified a total of 64 new embedded VeLLO candidates with $L_{int}$ < $0.1(d/140pc)^2\;L\odot$, consisting of 8 in California, 15 in Chamaeleon-Musca, 13 in Scorpius-Lupus, 20 in Serpens, 3 in Corona Australis, 3 in Cepheus, and 2 in IC 5146. The classification of the spectral index (${\alpha}$) fitted to the shape of the Ks-24 micron SEDs shows most of VeLLO candidates (89%) are in types of Class I and Flat spectrum. We plot various diagrams based on their 2MASS-Spitzer bands colors and magnitudes to discuss properties of the VeLLOs. This search will lead us new adventure toward a future systematic study of the VeLLOs.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2016

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are too compact to be resolved by any existing optical telescope facility, making it difficult to understand their structure and the emission processes responsible for their huge energy output. However, variability, one of their characteristic properties, provides a tool to probe the inner regions of AGN. Blazars are the best candidates for such a study, and hence a considerable amount of effort is being made to investigate variability in these sources across the electromagnetic spectrum. Here, using the Mt. Abu infrared observatory (MIRO) blazar monitoring program, we present intra-night, inter-night, and long term aspects of the variability in S5 0716+71, 3C66A, and OJ 287. These stars show significant variability on short (a few tens of mins, to a few hours, to a few days) to long term (months to years) timescales. Based on the light travel time argument, the shortest variability timescales (micro-variability) provide upper limits to the size of the emission region. While S5 0716 shows a very high duty cycle of variability (> 80 %), 3C66A shows a much lower intra day variability (IDV) duty cycle (< 20 %). All three show rapid variations within 2.5 to 3.5 hr, which, perhaps, are generated near the vicinity of black holes. Assuming this, estimates of the masses of the black holes are made at ~10⁹, 8×10⁸, and 2.7×10⁹ M_⨀ for S5 0716+71, 3C66A, and OJ 287, respectively. Multi-wavelength light-curves for the blazar PKS 1510-089 are discussed to infer the emission processes responsible for the recent flaring episodes in this source.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.148.1-148.1
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• 2011

We report the result of post-outburst observation of HBC722, the new FU Orionis-like young stellar object (also known as LkHa 188-G4 and PTF 10qpf; A. Miller et al., 2011). We have been monitoring this object since Nov. 2010 with KASINICS (Korean Astronomy and Space Institute Near Infrared Camera System) at Bohyun Optical Astronomy Observatory (BOAO). The observations were performed two times; the first observation was conducted in Nov. 19, 24, and 25, 2010. And the second one was done in March 22 and 25, 2011. We used three filters: J, H, and Ks band. We did aperture photometry with IRAF packages and standardized the photometric result (instrumental magnitude) with 2MASS data that were used as standard stars. As a result, we have found that the brightness of the target decreased in all bands and its colors reddened: the magnitudes and colors of the target are J=10.37, H= 9.49, Ks=8.59, J-H=0.88, and J-Ks=1.36 on Nov. 19, 2010. And those are J=10.81, H=9.81, Ks=9.28, J-H=1.00, and J-Ks=1.53 on March 25, 2011. The previous study showed the similar decrease of brightness in J and H band except for Ks band., They were J= 10.03, H= 9.14, and Ks= 8.65 on Sept. 2010 and those were J= 10.02, H=9.24, and Ks= 8.59 on Nov. 2010. Consequently, we can conclude that HBC722 is fading out continuously from last November to this March.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.147.2-147.2
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• 2011

We have initiated a long-term identification campaign of supernova remnant candidates in X-ray regime. In the short-listed unidentified sources from the ROSAT All Sky Survey, we have chosen the brightest candidate, G308.3-1.4, as our pilot target for a dedicated investigation with Chandra X-ray Observatory. Our observation has revealed an incomplete shell-like X-ray structure which well-correlated with the radio feature. Together with the spectral properties of a shocked heated plasma, we confirm that G308.3-1.4 is indeed a supernova remnant. A bright X-ray point source which locates close to the remnant center is also uncovered in this observation. Its spectral behavior conform with those observed in a rare class of neutron stars. The properties of its optical/infrared counterpart suggests the evidence for a late-type companion star. Interestingly, possible excesses in B-band and H-alpha have been found which indicate this can be an accretion-powered system. With the further support from the putative periodicity of ~1.4 hrs, this source can possibly provide the direct evidence of a binary system survived in a supernova explosion for the first time.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2015

We describe a survey of nearby core-collapse supernova (SN) explosion sites using integral field spectroscopy (IFS) techniques, which is an extension of the work described in Kuncarayakti et al. (2013). The project aims to constrain SN progenitor properties based on the study of the immediate environment of the SN. The stellar populations present at the SN explosion sites are studied by means of integral field spectroscopy, which enables the acquisition of both spatial and spectral information of the object simultaneously. The spectrum of the SN parent stellar population gives an estimate of its age and metallicity. With this information, the initial mass and metallicity of the once coeval SN progenitor star are derived. While the survey is mostly done in optical, the additional utilization of near-infrared integral field spectroscopy assisted with adaptive optics (AO) enables us to examine the explosion sites in high spatial detail, down to a few parsecs. This work is being carried out using multiple 2-8 m class telescopes equipped with integral field spectrographs in Chile and Hawaii.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.413-415
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• 2015

How galaxy evolution differs in different environments is one of the intriguing questions in the study of structure formation. While galaxy properties are clearly distinguished in different environments in the local universe, it is still an open issue what causes this environmental dependence of various galaxy properties. To address this question, in this work, we investigate the build-up of passive galaxies over a wide redshift range, from z ~ 2 to z ~ 0.5, focusing on its dependence on galaxy environment. In the UKIDSS/Ultra Deep Survey (UDS) field, we identify high-redshift galaxy cluster candidates within this redshift range. Then, using deep optical and near-infrared data from Subaru and UKIRT available in this field, we analyze and compare the stellar population properties of galaxies in the clusters and in the field. Our results show that the environmental effect on galaxy star-formation properties is a strong function of redshift as well as stellar mass - in the sense that (1) the effect becomes significant at small redshift, and (2) it is stronger for low-mass ($M_{\ast}<10^{10}M_{\odot}$) galaxies. We have also found that galaxy stellar mass plays a more significant role in determining their star-formation property - i.e., whether they are forming stars actively or not - than their environment throughout the redshift range.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.66.3-67
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• 2021

Low-mass stars form by the gravitational collapse of dense molecular cores. Observations and theories of low-mass protostars both suggest that accretion bursts happen in timescales of ~100 years with high accretion rates, so called episodic accretion. One mechanism that triggers accretion bursts is infalling fragments from the outer disk. Such fragmentation happens when the disk is massive enough, preferentially activated during the embedded phase of star formation (Class 0 and I). Most observations and models focus on the gas structure of the protostars undergoing episodic accretion. However, the dust and ice composition are poorly understood, but crucial to the chemical evolution through thermal and energetic processing via accretion burst. During the burst phase, the surrounding material is heated up, and the chemical compositions of gas and ice in the disk and envelope are altered by sublimation of icy molecules from grain surfaces. Such alterations leave imprints in the ice composition even when the temperature returns to the pre-burst level. Thus, chemical compositions of gas and ice retain the history of past bursts. Infrared spectral observations of the Spitzer and AKARI revealed a signature caused by substantial heating, toward many embedded protostars at the quiescent phase. We present the AKARI IRC 2.5-5.0 ㎛ spectra for embedded protostars to trace down the characteristics of accretion burst across the evolutionary stages. The ice compositions obtained from the absorption features therein are used as a clock to measure the timescale after the burst event, comparing the analyses of the gas component that traced the burst frequency using the different refreeze-out timescales. We discuss ice abundances, whose chemical change has been carved in the icy mantle, during the different timescales after the burst ends.