• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.41.2-41.2
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• 2015

Steward Observatory has a rich and diverse program of investigations, with significant groups working on star and planet formation and astrobiology, galaxy and quasar formation and evolution, technology for adaptive optics and interferometry, computational astrophysics, and effectiveness of educational practice. To support this work, Steward operates and offers a range of observational and other facilities, including the Large Binocular Telescope, the MMT, the Magellan Telescopes, the Arizona Radio Observatory, and a suite of 1- and 2-m class telescopes. A special opportunity for IR astronomy exists with Arizona now running UKIRT. Steward Observatory astronomers would welcome the opportunity to form genuine scientific collaborations that are mutually beneficial for high-impact projects and improving the observing facilities.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.659-661
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• 2015

The Long Baseline Array is an array of radio telescopes using the technique of Very Long Baseline Interferometry to achieve milli-arcsecond-scale angular resolution. The core telescopes are located in Australia, with telescopes in New Zealand and South Africa also participating regularly. In this paper the capabilities of the Long Baseline Array are described, and examples of the science undertaken with the array are given.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.54.1-54.1
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• 2015

We report results of investigation of amplitude calibration for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations with Korean VLBI Network (KVN). Amplitude correction factors are estimated based on comparison of KVN observations at 22 GHz correlated by Daejeon hardware correlator and DiFX software correlator in Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institue (KASI) with Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations at 22 GHz by DiFX software correlator in National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). We used the observations for compact radio sources, 3C 454.3 and NRAO 512 which are almost unresolved for baselines in a range of 350-477 km. VLBA visibility data of the sources observed with similar baselines as KVN are selected, fringe-fitted, calibrated, and compared in their amplitudes. We found that visibility amplitudes of KVN observations should be corrected by factors of 1.14 and 1.40 when correlated by DiFX and Daejeon correlators, respectively. These correction factors are attributed to the combination of two steps of 2-bit quantization in KVN observing systems and characteristics of Daejeon correlator.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2010

In this paper, we developed a local oscillator (LO) system of millimeter wave band receiver for radio astronomy observation. We measured the phase and amplitude drift stability of this LO system. The voltage control oscillator (VCO) of this LO system use the 3 mm band Gunn oscillator. We developed the digital phase locked loop (DPLL) module for the LO PLL function that can be computer-controlled. To verify the performance, we measured the output frequency/power and the phase/amplitude drift stability of the developed module and the commercial PLL module, respectively. We show the good performance of the LO system based on the developed PLL module from the measured data analysis. The test results and discussion will be useful tutorial reference to design the LO system for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) receiver and single dish radio astronomy receiver at the 3 mm frequency band.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.60.2-60.2
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• 2016

We present recent results of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of gamma-ray bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using Korean VLBI Network (KVN) at 22, 43, 86, and 129~GHz bands, which are part of a KVN key science program; Interferometric Monitoring of Gamma-ray Bright AGNs (iMOGABA). We selected a total of 34 radio-loud AGNs of which 30 sources are gamma-ray bright AGNs, including 24 sources monitored by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope using the Large Area Telescope on board. The selected sources consist of 24 quasars, 7 BL Lacs, and 3 radio galaxies. In this talk, we summarize recent results of the iMOGABA, including results of single-epoch multi-frequency VLBI observations of the target sources, conducted during a 24-hr session on 2013 November 19 and 20. All observed sources were detected and imaged at all frequency bands with or without a frequency phase transfer technique which enabled to detect and image 12 faint sources at 129 GHz, except for 0218+357 which was detected for only one baseline at all frequency bands.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.277-284
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• 2015

We present our efforts for extending the simultaneous multi-frequency receiver system of the Korean Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Network (KVN) to global baselines in order to measure the frequency-dependent position shifts in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) jets, the so called core shift effect, with an unprecedented accuracy (a few micro-arcseconds). Millimeter VLBI observations with simultaneous multi-frequency receiver systems, like those of the KVN, enable us to explore the innermost regions of AGN and high precision astrometry. Such a system is capable of locating the frequency dependent opacity changes accurately. We have conducted the feasibility test-observations with the interested partners by implementing the KVN-compatible systems. Here we describe the science case for measuring the core shift effect in the AGN jet and report progress and future plans on extending the simultaneous multi-frequency system to global baselines.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.637-639
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• 2015

The Korean very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) network (KVN) and VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) Array (KaVA) is the first international VLBI array dedicated to high-frequency (23 GHz (K-band) and 43 GHz (Q-band)) observations in East Asia. To evaluate the imagine capability of KaVA, we performed imaging observations of three bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) known for their complex morphologies: 4C 39.25, 3C 273, and M87 by KaVA at K-/Q-band. Our KaVA images reveal extended outflows with complex substructure such as knots and limb brightening, in agreement with previous observations by other VLBI facilities. Angular resolutions are better than 1.4 and 0.8 milliarcsecond (max) at K-/Q-band, respectively. KaVA achieves a high dynamic range of ~1000, more than three times the value achieved by VERA. We conclude that KaVA is a powerful array with a great potential for the study of AGN outflows, at least comparable to the best existing radio interferometric arrays.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.207-213
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• 2022

The Seoul Radio Astronomy Observatory (SRAO) operates a 6.1-meter radio telescope on the Gwanak campus of Seoul National University. We present the efforts to reform SRAO to a Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) station, motivated by recent achievements by millimeter interferometer networks such as Event Horizon Telescope, East Asia VLBI Network, and Korean VLBI Network (KVN). For this goal, we installed a receiver that had been used in the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy and a digital backend, including an H-maser clock. The existing hardware and software were also revised, which had been dedicated only to single-dish operations. After several years of preparations and test observations in 1 and 3-millimeter bands, a fringe was successfully detected toward 3C 84 in 86 GHz in June 2022 for a baseline between SRAO and KVN Ulsan station separated by 300 km. Thanks to the dual frequency operation of the receiver, the VLBI observations will soon be extended to the 1 mm band and verify the frequency phase referencing technique between 1 and 3-millimeter bands.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.437-443
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• 2005

The Solar Radio Burst Locator (SRBL) is a spectrometer that can observe solar microwave bursts over a wide band (0.1-18 GHz) as well as detect the burst locations without interferometry or mechanical scanning. Its prototype has been operated at Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) since 1998. In this study, we have evaluated the capability of the SRBL system in flux and radio burst location measurements. For this, we consider 130 microwave bursts from 2000 to 2002. The SRBL radio fluxes of 53 events were compared with the fluxes from USAF/RSTN and the burst locations of 25 events were compared with the optical flare locations. From this study, we found: (1) there is a relatively good correlation (r = 0.9) between SRBL flux and RSTN flux; (2) the mean location error is about 8.4 arcmin and the location error (4.7 arcmin) of single source events is much smaller than that (14.9 arcmin) of multiple source events; (3) the minimum location error usually occurred just after the starting time of burst, mostly within 10 seconds; (4) there is a possible anti-correlation (r = -0.4) between the pointing error of SRBL antenna and the location error. The anti-correlation becomes more evident (r=-0.9) for 6 strong single source events associated with X-class flares. Our results show that the flux measurement of SRBL is consistent with that of RSTN, and the mean location error of SRBL is estimated to be about 5 arcmin for single source events.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.52.1-52.1
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• 2021

We present the results of multi-epoch, multi-frequency monitoring of a blazar 4C +29.45, which was regularly monitored as part of the Interferometric Monitoring of GAmma-ray Bright AGNs program - a key science program of the Korean Very long baseline interferometry Network (KVN). Observations were conducted simultaneously at 22, 43, 86 and 129 GHz during the 4 years from December 2012 to December 2016. We also used additional data from the 15 GHz Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) monitoring program. From the 15 GHz light curve, we estimated the variability time scales of the source during several radio flux enhancements. We found that the source experiencesd 6 radio flux enhancements with variability time scales of 9-187 days during the observing period, yielding corresponding variability Doppler factors of 9-27. From the multi-frequency simultaneous KVN observations, we were able to obtain accurate radio spectra of the source and hence to more precisely measure the turnover frequencies 𝜈_r of synchrotron self-absorbed (SSA) emission with a mean value of ${\bar{\nu}_r}=28.9GHz$. Using jet geometry assumptions, we estimated the size of the emitting region at the turnover frequency. Taking into account these results, we found that the equipartition magnetic field strength is up to two orders of magnitudes higher than the SSA magnetic field strength (0.6-99 mG). This is consistent with the source being particle dominated.