• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2009

We estimate the enclosed mass profile in the central 10 pc of the Milky Way by analyzing the infrared photometry and the velocity observations of dynamically relaxed stellar population in the Galactic center. HST/NICMOS and Gemini Adaptive Optics images in the archive are used to obtain the number density profile, and proper motion and radial velocity data were compiled from the literature to find the velocity dispersion profile assuming a spherical symmetry and velocity isotropy. From these data, we calculate the the enclosed mass and density profiles in the central 10 pc of the Galaxy using the Jeans equation. Our improved estimates can better describe the exact evolution of the molecular clouds and star clusters falling down to the Galactic center, and constrain the star formation history of the inner part of the Galaxy.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.141-145
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• 2007

Here we analyze if the ionized shells associated with giant HII regions represent the progenitors of the larger neutral hydrogen supershells detected in the Milky Way and other spiral and dwarf irregular galaxies. We calculate the evolutionary tracks that 12 HII shells found by Relano et al. (2005, 2007) would have if they expanded into the interstellar medium because of multiple supernovae explosions occurring inside the cavity. We find, contrary to Relano et al. (2007), that the evolutionary tracks of these HII shells are inconsistent with the observed parameters of the largest and most massive neutral hydrogen supershells. Thus, an additional energy source to the multiple supernovae explosions is required in order to explain the origin of the most massive neutral hydrogen shells.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.35.1-35.1
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• 2010

Unlike the initial mass function, the initial size distribution of globular cluster (GC) systems is not well known. We calculate the evolution of the mass function (MF), radial distribution (RD), and size distribution (SD) of the Galactic GC system. By comparing the results from this calculation and the present-day MF, RD, and SD of the Galactic GC system, we infer the initial SD of the GC system. We find that a Gaussian distribution of the half-mass radius and a Gaussian distribution of the half-mass to Jacobi radius ratio are the best-fit initial SDs of the Galactic GC system.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.81.2-81.2
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• 2010

Based on Yonsei Evolutionary Population Synthesis (YEPS), we have investigated the effect of horizontal branch stars (HBs) on the age-dating of simple stellar populations (SSPs). A detailed comparison of YEPS SSP with H_beta of M31 globular clusters (GCs) reveals (1) that the age dating without HB prescription gives ~5 Gyr younger ages for metal-poor M31 GCs, and (2) the age dating with HB prescription does not need any age gap between metal-poor and metal-rich GCs. This result is parallel to the well-known discrepancy in ages derived from integrated Balmer strengths and isochrone fittings of Milky Way GCs (MWGCs). Without a synthetic blue HB model, we cannot explain strong Balmer indices of metal-poor and old MWGCs. Our results suggest that the SSP model with well calibrated HBs should be used for the age-dating of SSPs to avoid a serious underestimation of ages due to the strong Balmer indices.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.44.4-45
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• 2017

We report the first detection of RR Lyrae variable stars in the Crater II dwarf galaxy, a recently discovered ultra-faint satellite of the Milky Way. Based on B, V time series photometry obtained with the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) at CTIO, Chile, we have identified ~45 fundamental-mode (ab-type) and ~2 first-overtone (c-type) RR Lyrae stars by adopting template light-curve fitting method. Our preliminary analysis suggests an Oosterhoff-intermediate classification of this galaxy from the mean period of the RRab stars, <$P_{ab}$> ${\simeq}0.63$ days, and the location of them on the period-amplitude diagram. We discuss the properties of the RR Lyare stars in this galaxy.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.51.4-52
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• 2017

We perform hydrodynamical simulations of a late-type galaxy experiencing frequent high-speed encounters with intruding galaxies, called "galaxy harassment". Specifically, we simulate a Milky Way-like galaxy colliding consecutively with six twice-massive early-type galaxies containing hot diffuse gas on their halos, with various impact parameters ranging from 65 kpc/h to 15 kpc/h at the relative speed of about 1500 km/s. We show that galaxy-galaxy encounters play a significant role in a cluster environment in gas stripping and star formation quenching through hydrodynamic interactions of late-type galaxies with cluster early-type galaxies.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.66.3-67
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• 2018

We present distinct chemical and kinematic properties associated with the inner and outer halos of the Milky Way, as identified by metal-poor stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. In particular, using carbon-enhance metal-poor (CEMP) giants, we first map out the fractions of CEMP-no stars (without strongly enhanced neutron-capture elements) and CEMP-s stars (with a large enhancement of s-process elements) in the inner- and outer-halo populations, separated by their spatial distribution of carbonicity ([C/Fe]). The CEMP-no and CEMP-s objects are classified by their different levels of absolute carbon abundances, A(C). We investigate characteristics of rotational velocity and orbital eccentricity for these sub-classes within the halo populations. Distinct kinematic features and fractions between CEMP-no and CEMP-s stars identified in each halo region will provide important clues on the origin of the dichotomy of the Galactic halo.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.36.2-36.2
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• 2018

Radiative transfer models were developed to understand the optical polarizations in edge-on galaxies, which are observed to occur even outside the geometrically thin dust disk, with a scale height of ~0.2 kpc. In order to reproduce the vertically extended polarization structure, we find it is essential to include a geometrically thick dust layer in the radiative transfer model, in addition to the commonly-known thin dust layer. The models include polarizations due to both dust scattering and dichroic extinction which is responsible for the observed interstellar polarization in the Milky Way. It is found that the magnetic fields in edge-on galaxies are in general vertical (or poloidal) except the central part, where the magnetic fields are mainly toroidal. We also find that the polarization level is enhanced if the clumpiness of the interstellar medium, and the dichroic extinction by vertical magnetic fields in the outer regions of the dust lane are included in the radiative transfer model. The predicted degree of polarization outside the dust lane was found to be consistent with that (ranging from 1% to 4%) observed in NGC 891.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.67.1-67.1
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• 2011

Recent observations and modeling of globular clusters with multiple populations strongly indicate the presence of super helium-rich subpopulations in old stellar systems. Motivated by this, we have constructed new population synthesis models with and without helium-enhanced subpopulations to investigate their impact on the UV-upturn phenomenon of quiescent early-type galaxies. We find that our models with helium-enhanced subpopulations can naturally reproduce the strong UV-upturns observed in giant elliptical galaxies assuming an age similar to that of old globular clusters in the Milky Way. The major source of far-UV (FUV) flux, in this model, is relatively metal-poor and helium-enhanced hot horizontal branch stars and their progeny. The Burstein et al. (1988) relation of the FUV - V color with metallicity is also explained either by the variation of the fraction of helium-enhanced subpopulations or by the spread in mean age of stellar populations in early-type galaxies.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2004.10b
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• pp.290-292
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• 2004

Near-IR observations of the central few parsecs of our Galaxy from the HST/NICMOS have been analyzed to produce H, K photometry. We have cross-identified our photometry with the Keck high-resolution spectrometry of the central 0.5 pc of our galaxy to distinguish evolved late-type stars from early-type stars, and use late-type stars as tracer population. We perform several statistical tests to find the best fitting parameters of stellar density distribution and velocity dispersion models, then derive volume number densities and velocity dispersions. The volume number density distribution has power law index $1.55\~1.7$. We then derive the mass distribution in the Central region of our Galaxy using the Jeans equation.