• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.52.1-52.1
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• 2014

Radio pulsars are highly magnetized, rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit synchrotron radiation along the magnetic axes at their spin frequencies. Traditionally, pulsar observations have been done at low frequencies (MHz up to a few GHz), since radio pulsar spectrum is known to a power-law with a steep negative spectral index. More recently, high-frequency pulsar observations (several GHz and above) have been made as a broadband spectrometer and fast computers became available. High-frequency pulsar observations will provide information on radio emission mechanism of pulsars in the vicinity of the neutron star surface. There is also huge interest from gravitational-wave and astrophysics community to find a pulsar in the center of our Galaxy. The Korean VLBI Network has three 21-m single dishes in the Korean peninsula. Using KVN's lowest observational frequency of 22-GHz, we performed test observations with the KVN targeting a few selected known, bright pulsars. In addition, we have been developing pulsar pipelines that can be utilized with a VLBI facility using Mark-V. We present a brief introduction of radio pulsars and show data obtained with the KVN.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.53.3-54
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• 2015

We are developing large arrays of X-ray microcalorimeters for applications in X-ray astronomy. X-ray microcalorimeters can detect the energy of X-rays with extremely high resolution. High-resolution Imaging spectroscopy enabled by these arrays will allow us to study the hot and energetic nature of the Universe through the detection of X-rays from astronomical objects such as neutron stars or black holes. I will introduce the state-of-the-art X-ray microcalorimeters being developed at NASA/GSFC and the future X-ray observatory missions based on microcalorimeters.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2013

Here we review the effort of Fermi Asian Network (FAN) in exploring the supernova remnants (SNRs) with state-of-art high energy observatories, including Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory, in the period of 2011- 2012. Utilizing the data from Fermi LAT, we have discovered the GeV emission at the position of the Galactic SNR Kes 17 which provides evidence for the hadronic acceleration. Our study also sheds light on the propagation of cosmic rays from their acceleration site to the intersteller medium. We have also launched an identification campaign of SNR candidates in the Milky Way, in which a new SNR G308.3-1.4 have been uncovered with our Chandra observation. Apart from the remnant, we have also discovered an associated compact object at its center. The multiwavelength properties of this X-ray source suggest it can possibly be the compact binary that survived a supernova explosion.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.55.3-55.3
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• 2018

Magnetars are neutron stars powered by strong magnetic field (B > $10^{14}G$). Their spin period is in the range of 2 - 12s. The magnetic stress in the star may distort the crust (observed as outbursts), so magnetars (especially in outbursts) may emit gravitational waves. There are 29 magnetars known (potential gravitational waves sources), and increasing the number will increase the chance of detecting low-frequency gravitational waves. In addition, magnetars can be used for studying matter under extreme condition. In this study, we searched for more magnetars using extensive Chandra archival data and found 11 candidates. Due to the limited sensitivity of Chandra, form identification cannot be made, and more sensitivity X-ray data are needed.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2016

We used the 4 m Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) at Lowell observatory in 2014 to observe the Guitar Nebula, an Hα bow-shock nebula around the high-velocity radio pulsar B2224+65. Since the nebula's discovery in 1992, the structure of the bow-shock has undergone significant dynamical changes. We have observed the limb structure, targeting the "body" and "neck" of the guitar. Comparing the DCT observations to 1995 observations with the Palomar 200-inch Hale telescope, we found changes in both spatial structure and surface brightness in the tip, head, and body of the nebula.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31.3-31.3
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• 2016

Exploring a universe with gravitational waves (GWs) was only theoretical expectation for long time. In September 2015, the Laser Interferometer GW Observatory (LIGO) first detected GWs emitted from the collision of two stellar-mass black holes in cosmological distance (1.3 billion light years) on Earth. This confirms the existence of black-hole binary mergers, and further, opens a new field of GW astronomy. We begin our discussion with a list of important GW sources that can be detectable on Earth by large-scale laser interferometers such as LIGO. Focusing on compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes, we then discuss possible research in the context of GW astronomy. By coordinating with existing observatories, searching for electromagnetic waves or particles from astronomical objects, around the world, multi-messenger astronomy for the universe's most cataclysmic phenomena (e.g. gamma-ray bursts) will be available in the near future.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.80-80
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• 2014

Dynamics of a globular cluster (GC) is dominated by behaviors of high-mass components such as neutron stars or black holes (BHs). Massive components in a cluster are segregated into the cluster core and some of them are ejected by dynamical interactions. In this study, we perform N-body simulations of GCs adapting two BH mass components, $10M_{\odot}$ and $20M_{\odot}$. Previous studies which mostly assume single-mass BHs suggested a rapid collapsing and escaping of BHs. A cluster with a two-component BH mass spectrum, however, retains a large fraction of $10M_{\odot}$ BHs longer. In addition to their roles in cluster dynamics, massive components in binaries are one of important sources of gravitational waves (GWs). We investigate properties of BH binaries escaped from the cluster and discuss their implications for GW detection.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.78.1-78.1
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• 2014

Pulsar binaries in tight orbits are considered to emit strong gravitational waves (GWs) during the last stage of their coalescences. They form a subset of compact binary mergers, which consists of white dwarfs (WDs), neutron stars (NSs), or black holes (BHs). One of the most famous example of 'merging' pulsar binaries is the Hulse-Taylor pulsar (PSR B1913+16) discovered in 1974 by Russell Hulse and Joseph Taylor. About ten NS-NS and several tens of NS-WD binaries are known in our Galaxy. Merging binaries are rare and only a few NS-NS and NS-WD have been discovered to date. A pulsar with a black hole companion is also theoretically expected, but there is yet no detection. Within several years, direct detections of GWs from compact binary mergers will be made by laser interferometers. This will pave a way to study physics of compact binaries that cannot be reached by electromagnetic waves (EM). Pulsar binaries are of particular interest as we can use both EM and GW to probe these systems. In this talk, we present a brief overview on the Galactic pulsar populations and discuss their implications for GW detection.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.599-601
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• 2015

The short time scale X-ray variability associated with the accretion disk around compact objects is complex and is vaguely understood. The study of the cross correlation function gives an insight into the energy dependent behavior of the variations and hence connected processes. Using high resolution RXTE data, we investigate the dynamical cross correlation function of an observation of a black hole source XTE J1550-564 in the steep power law state. The cross correlation between soft and hard X- ray energy bands revealed both correlated and anti-correlated delays (${\leq}{\pm}15s$) on a correlation time scale of 50 s. It was noticed that the observed delays were similar to the delays between X-ray and optical/IR bands in other black hole and neutron star sources. We discuss the possible mechanisms/processes to explain the observed delays in the dynamical CCF.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.29 no.spc1
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• pp.217-218
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• 1996

The results of the Crab pulsar observations with the photometrical MANIA (Multichannel Analysis of Nanosecond Intensity Alterations) complex at the 6-m telescope are presented. More than 12 millions photons in UBVR-bands simultaneously with time resolution of $10^{-7}s$ were detected. Using the original software for search for optical pulsar period, we obtained the light curves of the object with time resolution of about 3.3 ${\mu}s$. Their detailed analysis gives the spectral change during pulse and subpulse, the shape of the pulse peaks, which are plateaus (with the duration of about 50${\mu}s$ for the main pulse), limits for an amplitude of fine temporal (stochastic and regular) structure of pulse and sub pulse and the interpulse space intensity. The results of CCD-spectroscopy of the Crab pulsar show that its summarized spectrum is flat. There are no lines, neither emission nor absorbtion ones. Upper limit for line intensity or depth is $3.5\%$ with the confidence probability of $95\%$.