• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.473-482
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• 2005

Many technical challenges are being tried for a large space infrared telescope, which is one of the major objectives of the Strategic Technology Road Map (STRM) of KASI (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute), As one of these challenges, KASI and KBSI (Korea Basic Science Institute) have started a cooperation project for developing a space infrared cryogenic system with KIMM (Korea Institute of Machinery as Materials) and i3system co. In this paper, we generate optical requirements for the Protomodel of Space Infrared Cryogenic System (PSICS), and design a single lens optical system with a bandpass of $3.8\~4.8{\mu}m$, a field of view of $15^{\circ}\times12^{\circ}$, and an angular resolution of $0.047^{\circ}$, to develop a further complex optical system.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.71.1-71.1
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• 2015

We prensent the near-infrared(NIR) images of the asymmetric circumstellar disk around a T-Tauri star in the ${\rho}$ Ophiuchi star-forming region, and two faint stellar objects around central star. These results were obtainted with the Subaru Telescope with HiCIAO(the High-Contrast Instrument with Adaptive Optics) and IRCS(the InfraRed Camera and Spectrograph). The disk shows center-offset from the star and a strong morphological asymmetry along both the major and minor axis. The physical conditions in the disk is derived from the infrared visibilites results and the complete spectral energy distribution using HOCHUNK3D, Monte-Carlo radiative transfer code. Two companion candidates are separated by 11.6 arcsec(~1450 au at 125 parsec) and 4.34 arcsec(~540 au at 125 parsec). This could be the first case, which imaged both of planetary mass companions and disk around same star. We discuss physical structures of the disk, and probablity that two candidates are real companions.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2017

A wide spectral coverage from near-infrared (NIR) to far-infrared (FIR) of AKARI both for imaging and spectroscopy enables us to efficiently study the emission from gas and dust in the interstellar medium (ISM). In particular, the Infrared Camera (IRC) onboard AKARI offers a unique opportunity to carry out sensitive spectroscopy in the NIR ($2-5{\mu}m$) for the first time from a spaceborn telescope. This spectral range contains a number of important dust bands and gas lines, such as the aromatic and aliphatic emission bands at 3.3 and $3.4-3.5{\mu}m$, $H_2O$ and $CO_2$ ices at 3.0 and $4.3{\mu}m$, CO, $H_2$, and H I gas emission lines. In this paper we concentrate on the aromatic and aliphatic emission and ice absorption features. The balance between dust supply and destruction suggests significant dust processing taking place as well as dust formation in the ISM. Detailed analysis of the aromatic and aliphatic bands of AKARI observations for a number of H ii regions and H ii region-like objects suggests processing of carbonaceous dust in the ISM. The ice formation process can also be studied with IRC NIR spectroscopy efficiently. In this review, dust processing in the ISM divulged by recent analysis of AKARI data is discussed.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.97.2-97.2
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• 2012

The main payload of Science and Technology Satellite 3 (STSAT-3), Multipurpose InfraRed Imaging System (MIRIS) is the first Korean infrared space mission to explore the near-infrared sky with a small astronomical instrument developed by KASI. The 8-cm passively cooled telescope with a wide field of view (3.67 deg. ${\times}$ 3.67 deg.) will be operated in the wavelength range from 0.9 to $2{\mu}m$. It will carry out wide-band imaging and the Paschen-${\alpha}$ emission line survey. After the calibration of MIRIS in our laboratory, MIRIS has been delivered to SaTReC and successfully assembled into the STSAT-3. The main purposes of MIRIS are to perform the observation of Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) at two wide spectral bands (I and H band) and to survey the Galactic plane at $1.88{\mu}m$ wavelength, the Paschen-${\alpha}$ emission line. CIB observation enables us to reveal the nature of degree-scale CIB fluctuation detected by the IRTS (Infrared Telescope in Space) mission and to measure the absolute CIB level. The MIRIS will continuously monitor the seasonal variation of the zodiacal light towards the both north and south ecliptic poles for the purpose of calibration as well as the effective removal of zodiacal light. The Pashen-${\alpha}$ emission line survey of Galactic plane helps us to understand the origin of Warm Ionized Medium (WIM) and to find the physical properties of interstellar turbulence related to star formation. Here, we also discuss the observation plan with MIRIS.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.26.4-27
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• 2010

The main payload of STSAT-3 (Science and Technology Satellite 3), MIRIS (Multipurpose InfraRed Imaging System) is the first Korean infrared space mission to explore the near-infrared sky with a small astronomical instrument, which is being developed by KASI. The 8-cm passively cooled telescope with a wide field of view (3.67 deg. $\times$ 3.67 deg.) will be operated in the wavelength range from 0.9 to $2{\mu}m$. It will carry out wide field imaging and the emission line survey. The main purposes of MIRIS are to perform the Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) observation at two wide spectral bands (I and H band) and to survey the Galactic plane at $1.88{\mu}m$ wavelength, the Paschen-$\alpha$ emission line. CIB observation enables us to reveal the nature of degreescale CIB fluctuation detected by the IRTS (Infrared Telescope in Space) mission and to measure the absolute CIB level. The Pashen-$\alpha$ emission line survey of Galactic plane helps us to understand the origin of Warm Ionized Medium (WIM) and to find the physical properties of interstellar turbulence related to star formation. Here, we also discuss the observation plan with MIRIS.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.42.1-42.1
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• 2013

GRB 100205A is a Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) which is suspected to be at $11{\leq}Z{\leq}13.5$ due to its very red H-K color ($(H-K)_{vega}=2.1{\pm}0.5$). We observed a field centered at GRB 100205A with the Wide Field Camera (WFCAM) at the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) in Hawaii, so as to find a 11 < z < 13 quasar that could be located around the GRB. The images were obtained in J, H, and K filters covering a square area of 0.75 $deg^2$ to the depths of 22.5, 21.4, and 20.2 in Vega magnitude at $5{\sigma}$, respectively. Also using a z-band image observed by MegaCam in Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), we found 12 candidates that have colors consistent with a quasar at 11 < z < 13 with two criteria; (1) non-detection in z-, J-bands and $(H-K)_{vega}$ > 1.6 (2) only detection in K-band with $(Hlimit-K)_{vega}$ > 1.6. However, we also find 627 red ($(H-K)_{vega}$ > 1.4) objects that are likely to be old or dusty galaxies at $z{\leq}3$, so the 12 candidates could be these red objects. These red objects are found to be strongly clustered in the Ultra Deep Survey (UDS) fields of UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) than those in the GRB 100205A field. We suggest a lack of a strongly clustered region surrounding an extremely high-redshift GRB with some limitations.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.39.3-40
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• 2015

The NISS (Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer for Star formation history) onboard NEXTSat-1 is the near-infrared instrument optimized to the first small satellite of NEXTSat series. The capability of both imaging and low spectral resolution spectroscopy in the near-infrared range is a unique function of the NISS. The major scientific mission is to study the cosmic star formation history in local and distant universe. For those purposes, the main targets are nearby galaxies, galaxy clusters, star-forming regions and low background regions. The off-axis optical design of the NISS with two linear variable filters is optimized to have a wide field of view ($2deg.{\times}2deg.$) as well as the wide wavelength range from 0.95 to $3.8{\mu}m$. The mechanical structure is considered to endure the launching condition as well as the space environment. The dewar inside the telescope is designed to operate the infrared detector at 80K stage. From the thermal analysis, we confirmed that the telescope and the dewar can be cooled down to around 200K and 80K, respectively in order to reduce the large amount of thermal noise. The stray light analysis is shown that a light outside a field of view can be reduced below 1%. After the fabrications of the parts of engineering qualification model (EQM), the NSS EQM was successfully assembled and integrated into the satellite. To verify operations of the satellite in space, the space environment tests such as the vibration, shock and thermal-vacuum test were performed. Here, we report the results of the critical design review for the NISS.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2015

First light galaxies have predictable linear clustering, and are expected to produce fluctuations with a characteristic spatial power spectrum, which peaks at an angular scale of ~ 10 arcminutes and in the $1-2{\mu}m$ spectral regions. The Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment 2 (CIBER2) is a dedicated sounding rocket mission for measuring the fluctuations in the extragalactic infrared background light, following up the previous successful measurements of CIBER1. With a 28.5 cm telescope accompanied with three arms of camera barrels and a dual broadband filter on each H2RG (${\lambda}_c=2.5{\mu}m$) array, CIBER2 can measure 6 bands of wide field ($1.1{\times}2.2$ degrees) up to 3 AB magnitudes deeper than CIBER1. This project is leaded by California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, collaborating internationally with Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Japan, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Korea Basic Science Institute, and Seoul National University. The Korean team is in charge of 1) one H2RG scientific array, 2) ground station hardware and software, 3) telescope lenses, and 4) flight and test bed electronics fabrication. In this paper, we describe the detailed activities of the Korean participation as well as the current status of the CIBER2 project.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2009

MIRIS is the main payload of the STSAT-3 (Science and Technology Satellite 3) and the first infrared space telescope for astronomical observation in Korea. MIRIS space observation camera (SOC) covers the observation wavelength from $0.9{\mu}m$ to $2.0{\mu}m$ with a wide field of view $3.67^{\circ}\times3.67^{\circ}$. The PICNIC HgCdTe detector in a cold box is cooled down below 100K by a micro Stirling cooler of which cooling capacity is 220mW at 77K. MIRIS SOC adopts passive cooling technique to chill the telescope below 200 K by pointing to the deep space (3K). The cooling mechanism employs a radiator, a Winston cone baffle, a thermal shield, MLI (Multi Layer Insulation) of 30 layers, and GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic) pipe support in the system. Optomechanical analysis was made in order to estimate and compensate possible stresses from the thermal contraction of mounting parts at cryogenic temperatures. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of mechanical structure was also conducted to ensure safety and stability in launching environments and in orbit. MIRIS SOC will mainly perform Galactic plane survey with narrow band filters (Pa $\alpha$ and Pa $\alpha$ continuum) and CIB (Cosmic Infrared Background) observation with wide band filters (I and H) driven by a cryogenic stepping motor.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2017

Debris disks are circumstellar dust disks around main-sequence stars. They are important observational clues to understanding the planetary system formation. The zodiacal light is the thermal emission from the dust disk in our Solar system. For a comprehensive understanding of the nature and the evolution of dust disks around main-sequence stars, we try a comparative study of debris disks and the zodiacal light. We search for debris disks using the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky point source catalog. By applying accurate flux estimate of the photospheric emission based on the follow-up near-infrared observations with IRSF, we have improved the detection rate of debris disks. For a detailed study of the structure and grain properties in the zodiacal dust cloud, as an example of dust disks around main-sequence stars, we analyze the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky diffuse maps. As a result of the debris disks search, we found old (>1 Gyr) debris disks which have large excess emission compared to their age, which cannot be explained simply by the conventional steady-state evolution model. From the zodiacal light analysis, we find the possibility that the dust grains trapped in the Earth's resonance orbits have increased by a factor of ~3 in the past ~20 years. Combining these results, we discuss the non-steady processes in debris disks and the zodiacal light.