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H. Ando

Publications and source records attributed to H. Ando.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Study on the Venusian Atmospheric Thermal Structure: A Comparative Analysis between VEX/Akatsuki and Venus-GRAM/VCD

We investigate the thermal structure of the Venusian middle atmosphere between 45 and 80 km using radio occultation (RO) measurements from Venus Express and Akatsuki spanning 2006-2024. Retrieved temperature profiles are compared with climatological predictions from the Venus-GRAM and the Venus Climate Database (VCD). Systematic deviations exceeding 10 K are observed between the RO temperatures and model climatologies, particularly at high latitudes in both hemispheres. The long-term dataset further reveals a possible decadal-scale temporal variability in temperatures across the low-to-mid latitude regions. This variability becomes less coherent at higher altitudes. A combination of post-stratification and bootstrap analysis on the temperature anomalies indicates that the observed temporal variability at low-to-mid and polar latitudes is not readily explained by the latitudinal sampling bias quantified using the adopted analysis, while the trends at mid-to-high latitudes are affected by sparse and uneven RO sounding. Sensitivity tests using modified cloud albedo inputs in VCD simulations show that adjusting cloud radiative forcing partially reconciles the discrepancies, especially at the lower altitudes, below 60 km. However, above the cloud top, at the lower latitudes, the divergence from the observations increases significantly, thereby failing to provide a general reconciliation between VCD and RO. These results highlight the need for updated empirical climatologies incorporating recent RO measurements and for improved physical parameterizations in Venus general circulation models to better capture the global variability in the planet's middle atmosphere.

astro-ph.EP

On the estimation of Sulfuric Acid Vapor concentrations below the Venus cloud deck using the Akatsuki Radio Science Experiment

We report new constraints on the vertical distribution of sulfuric acid vapor in the Venusian atmosphere, derived from a refined analysis of radio occultation (RO) data. The method estimates the power spectral density (PSD) of the received signal to recover both the signal intensity and the Doppler shift. The received signal power is estimated at 1-sec cadence which enhances the sensitivity and detection of the signal at lower altitudes of Venus, even in regions of high atmospheric opacity. After correcting total attenuation for refractive losses, absorption by known microwave absorbers is removed, leaving a residual signal attributable to sulfuric acid vapor. Two different methods of estimating the absorption due to Sulfur Dioxide have been presented, including one which incorporates in-situ data, which should better constrain the sulfuric acid vapor abundance below the clouds. Retrieved profiles for altitudes of 40 - 50 km reveal an increasing vapor abundance to more than 10 ppm below the clouds, and a sharp decline above 50 km in line with the expected saturation profile. These measurements agree with current models of the Venusian cloud structure and composition, and demonstrate that RO data, when coupled with optimized spectral analysis, can yield quantitative constraints on trace absorbers in optically thick atmospheres.

astro-ph.EP

Detection of solar-like oscillations in the bright red giant stars $γ$ Psc and $θ^1$ Tau from a 190-day high-precision spectroscopic multisite campaign

Red giants are evolved stars which exhibit solar-like oscillations. Although a multitude of stars have been observed with space telescopes, only a handful of red-giant stars were targets of spectroscopic asteroseismic observing projects. We search for solar-like oscillations in the two bright red-giant stars $γ$ Psc and $θ^1$ Tau from time series of ground-based spectroscopy and determine the frequency of the excess of oscillation power $ν_{max}$ and the mean large frequency separation $Δν$ for both stars. The radial velocities of $γ$ Psc and $θ^1$ Tau were monitored for 120 and 190 days, respectively. Nearly 9000 spectra were obtained. To reach the accurate radial velocities, we used simultaneous thorium-argon and iodine-cell calibration of our optical spectra. In addition to the spectroscopy, we acquired VLTI observations of $γ$ Psc for an independent estimate of the radius. Also 22 days of observations of $θ^1$ Tau with the MOST-satellite were analysed. The frequency analysis of the radial velocity data of $γ$ Psc revealed an excess of oscillation power around 32 $μ$Hz and a large frequency separation of 4.1$\pm$0.1$μ$Hz. $θ^1$ Tau exhibits oscillation power around 90 $μ$Hz, with a large frequency separation of 6.9$\pm$0.2$μ$Hz. Scaling relations indicate that $γ$ Psc is a star of about $\sim$1 M$_\odot$ and $\sim$10 R$_\odot$. $θ^1$ Tau appears to be a massive star of about $\sim$2.7 M$_\odot$ and $\sim$11 R$_\odot$. The radial velocities of both stars were found to be modulated on time scales much longer than the oscillation periods. While the mass of $θ^1$ Tau is in agreement with results from dynamical parallaxes, we find a lower mass for $γ$ Psc than what is given in the literature. The long periodic variability agrees with the expected time scales of rotational modulation.

astro-ph.SR

Behavior of Li abundances in solar-analog stars II. Evidence of the connection with rotation and stellar activity

We previously attempted to ascertain why the Li I 6708 line-strengths of Sun-like stars differ so significantly despite the superficial similarities of stellar parameters. We carried out a comprehensive analysis of 118 solar analogs and reported that a close connection exists between the Li abundance A_Li and the line-broadening width (v_r+m; mainly contributed by rotational effect), which led us to conclude that stellar rotation may be the primary control of the surface Li content. To examine our claim in more detail, we study whether the degree of stellar activity exhibits a similar correlation with the Li abundance, which is expected because of the widely believed close connection between rotation and activity. We measured the residual flux at the line center of the strong Ca II 8542 line, r_0(8542), known to be a useful index of stellar activity, for all sample stars using newly acquired spectra in this near-IR region. The projected rotational velocity (v_e sin i) was estimated by subtracting the macroturbulence contribution from v_r+m that we had already established. A remarkable (positive) correlation was found in the A_Li versus (vs.) r_0(8542) diagram as well as in both the r_0(8542) vs. v_e sin i and A_Li vs. v_e sin i diagrams, as had been expected. With the confirmation of rotation-dependent stellar activity, this clearly shows that the surface Li abundances of these solar analogs progressively decrease as the rotation rate decreases. Given this observational evidence, we conclude that the depletion of surface Li in solar-type stars, probably caused by effective envelope mixing, operates more efficiently as stellar rotation decelerates. It may be promising to attribute the low-Li tendency of planet-host G dwarfs to their different nature in the stellar angular momentum.

astro-ph.SR

A multi-site campaign to measure solar-like oscillations in Procyon. II. Mode frequencies

We have analyzed data from a multi-site campaign to observe oscillations in the F5 star Procyon. The data consist of high-precision velocities that we obtained over more than three weeks with eleven telescopes. A new method for adjusting the data weights allows us to suppress the sidelobes in the power spectrum. Stacking the power spectrum in a so-called echelle diagram reveals two clear ridges that we identify with even and odd values of the angular degree (l=0 and 2, and l=1 and 3, respectively). We interpret a strong, narrow peak at 446 muHz that lies close to the l=1 ridge as a mode with mixed character. We show that the frequencies of the ridge centroids and their separations are useful diagnostics for asteroseismology. In particular, variations in the large separation appear to indicate a glitch in the sound-speed profile at an acoustic depth of about 1000 s. We list frequencies for 55 modes extracted from the data spanning 20 radial orders, a range comparable to the best solar data, which will provide valuable constraints for theoretical models. A preliminary comparison with published models shows that the offset between observed and calculated frequencies for the radial modes is very different for Procyon than for the Sun and other cool stars. We find the mean lifetime of the modes in Procyon to be 1.29 +0.55/-0.49 days, which is significantly shorter than the 2-4 days seen in the Sun.

astro-ph.SR

Oscillations in Procyon A: First results from a multi-site campaign

Procyon A is a bright F5IV star in a binary system. Although the distance, mass and angular diameter of this star are all known with high precision, the exact evolutionary state is still unclear. Evolutionary tracks with different ages and different mass fractions of hydrogen in the core pass, within the errors, through the observed position of Procyon A in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. For more than 15 years several different groups have studied the solar-like oscillations in Procyon A to determine its evolutionary state. Although several studies independently detected power excess in the periodogram, there is no agreement on the actual oscillation frequencies yet. This is probably due to either insufficient high-quality data (i.e., aliasing) or due to intrinsic properties of the star (i.e., short mode lifetimes). Now a spectroscopic multi-site campaign using 10 telescopes world-wide (minimizing aliasing effects) with a total time span of nearly 4 weeks (increase the frequency resolution) is performed to identify frequencies in this star and finally determine its properties and evolutionary state.

astro-ph

The new record holder for the most iron-poor star: HE 1327-2326, a dwarf or subgiant with [Fe/H]=-5.4

We describe the discovery of HE 1327-2326, a dwarf or subgiant with [Fe/H]}=-5.4. The star was found in a sample of bright metal-poor stars selected from the Hamburg/ESO survey. Its abundance pattern is characterized by very high C and N abundances. The detection of Sr which is overabundant by a factor of 10 as compared to iron and the Sun, suggests that neutron-capture elements had already been produced in the very early Galaxy. A puzzling Li depletion is observed in this unevolved star which contradicts the value of the primordial Li derived from WMAP and other Li studies. Possible scenarios for the origin of the abundance pattern (Pop. II or Pop. III) are presented as well as an outlook on future observations.

astro-ph

The Subaru Deep Field: The Optical Imaging Data

The Subaru Deep Field (SDF) project is a program of Subaru Observatory to carry out a deep galaxy survey over a blank field as large as 34'x27'. The program consists of very deep multi-band optical imaging, near infrared imaging for smaller portions of the field and follow-up optical spectroscopy. Major scientific goals of the project are to construct large samples of Lyman-break galaxies at z~4-5 and Lyman alpha emitters at z~5.7 and 6.6, and to make detailed studies these very high-redshift galaxy populations. In this paper, we describe the optical imaging observations and data reduction, presenting mosaicked images and object catalogs in seven bandpasses.The optical imaging was made through five broad-band filters, B, V, R, i', z', and two narrow-band filters, NB816 (lambda_c=8150A) and NB921 (lambda_c=9196A) with almost 10 hours long integrations for each band. The limiting magnitudes measured at 3-sigma on a 2" aperture are B=28.45, V=27.74, R=27.80, i'=27.43, z'=26.62, NB816=26.63, and NB921=26.54 in the AB system. The object catalog constructed for each of the seven bands contains more than 10^5 objects. The galaxy number counts corrected for detection incompleteness and star count contribution are found to be consistent with previous results in the literature. The mosaicked images and catalogs of all the bands have been made open to the public on Oct. 1, 2004 on the SDF project website at http://soaps.naoj.org/sdf/.

astro-ph

A Strong Lyman-alpha Emitter at z=6.33 in the Subaru Deep Field Selected as an i' Dropout

We report on the discovery of a star-forming galaxy at z=6.33 in the Subaru Deep Field. This object is selected as a candidate of an i'-dropout, high-redshift galaxy around z=6 because of its red i'-z' color in our deep optical imaging survey in the Subaru Deep Field. Our follow up optical spectroscopy reveals that this object is a strong Ly-alpha emitter with only very faint ultraviolet continuum. The rest-frame equivalent width of the detected Ly-alpha emission is as much as 130 A. Thus the light detected in our z' image is largely attributed to the Ly-alpha emission, i.e., ~40% of the z'-band flux is the strong Ly-alpha emission, giving a very red i'-z' color. This is consistent with the photometric property of this object because the narrow-band data obtained with the NB921 filter shows a significant depression, z'-NB921 = -0.54 mag. By using the photometric data, we show that some other objects among the 48 i'-dropout high-redshift galaxy candidates found in the Subaru Deep Field also show a significant NB921 depression. We briefly discuss the nature of these NB921-depressed objects.

astro-ph

Spectroscopic Studies of Extremely Metal-Poor Stars with Subaru/HDS:I. Observational Data

We have obtained high-resolution (R $\simeq$ 50,000 or 90,000), high-quality (S/N $\ga$ 100) spectra of 22 very metal-poor stars ([Fe/H] $\la$ -2.5) with the High Dispersion Spectrograph fabricated for the 8.2m Subaru Telescope. The spectra cover the wavelength range from 3500 to 5100 Å; equivalent widths are measured for isolated lines of numerous elemental species, including the $α$ elements, the iron-peak elements, and the light and heavy neutron-capture elements. Errors in the measurements and comparisons with previous studies are discussed. These data will be used to perform detailed abundance analyses in the following papers of this series. Radial velocities are also reported, and are compared with previous studies. At least one moderately r-process-enhanced metal-poor star, HD 186478, exhibits evidence of a small-amplitude radial velocity variation, confirming the binary status noted previously. During the course of this initial program, we have discovered a new moderately r-process-enhanced, very metal-poor star, CS 30306-132 ([Fe/H] $= -2.4$; [Eu/Fe] $= +0.85$), which is discussed in detail in the companion paper.

astro-ph

Spectroscopic Studies of Extremly Metal-Poor Stars with Subaru/HDS:II.The r-process Elements, Including Thorium

We present the abundance analyses for the neutron-capture elements, and discuss the observed abundance distributions in very metal-poor stars with excesses of r-process elements. As has been found by previous abundance studies, the star-to-star scatter in the abundances of neutron-capture elements are very large. The abundance patterns of the heavy neutron-capture elements (56 $\leq$ Z $\leq$ 70) in seven objects with moderate to large excesses of the neutron-capture elements are similar to that of the solar system r-process component. These results strongly suggest that the heavy neutron-capture elements in these objects are primarily synthesized by the r-process. On the other hand, the abundance ratios of the light neutron-capture elements (38 $\leq$ Z $\leq$ 46) exhibit a rather large dispersion. Our inspection of the correlation between Sr and Ba abundances in very metal-poor stars reveals that the dispersion of the Sr abundances clearly decreases with increasing Ba abundance. This results support previous suggestions that the light neutron-capture elements are likely to have been produced in different astrophysical sites from those associated with the production of the heavier ones. The Th/Eu abundance ratios (log(Th/Eu)) measured for the seven r-process-enhanced stars range from -0.10 to -0.59. Since these very metal-poor stars are believed to be formed in the early Galaxy, this result means that a small dispersion appears in the abundance ratios between Th and rare-earth elements, such as Eu, in very metal-poor stars. In order to apply the Th/Eu ratios to estimates of stellar ages, further understanding for the Th production by the r-process nucleosynthesis is required.

astro-ph

The Discovery of Two Lyman$α$ Emitters Beyond Redshift 6 in the Subaru Deep Field

We have performed a deep optical imaging survey using a narrowband filter ($NB921$) centered at $λ=$ 9196 Å~ together with $i^\prime$ and $z^\prime$ broadband filters covering an 814 arcmin$^2$ area of the Subaru Deep Field. We obtained a sample of 73 strong $NB921$-excess objects based on the following two color criteria; $z^\prime - NB921 > 1$ and $i^\prime - z^\prime > 1.3$. We then obtained optical spectroscopy of nine objects in our $NB921$-excess sample, and identified at least two Ly$α$ emitters at$z=6.541 \pm 0.002$ and $z=6.578 \pm 0.002$, each of which shows the characteristic sharp cutoff together with the continuum depression at wavelengths shortward of the line peak. The latter object is more distant than HCM-6A at $z=6.56$ and thus this is the most distant known object found so far. These new data allow us to estimate the first meaningful lower limit of the star formation rate density beyond redshift 6; $ρ_{\rm SFR} \sim 5.2 \times 10^{-4} M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-3}$. Since it is expected that the actual density is higher by a factor of several than this value, our new observation reveals that a moderately high level of star formation activity already occurred at $z \sim$ 6.6.

astro-ph

The Discovery of a Very Narrow-Line Star Forming Obat a Redshift of 5.66ject

We report on the discovery of a very narrow-line star forming object beyond redshift of 5. Using the prime-focus camera, Suprime-Cam, on the 8.2 m Subaru telescope together with a narrow-passband filter centered at $λ_{\rm c}$ = 8150 Åwith passband of $Δλ$ = 120 Å, we have obtained a very deep image of the field surrounding the quasar SDSSp J104433.04$-$012502.2 at a redshift of 5.74. Comparing this image with optical broad-band images, we have found an object with a very strong emission line. Our follow-up optical spectroscopy has revealed that this source is at a redshift of $z=5.655\pm0.002$, forming stars at a rate $\sim 13 ~ h_{0.7}^{-2} ~ M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. Remarkably, the velocity dispersion of Ly$α$-emitting gas is only 22 km s$^{-1}$. Since a blue half of the Ly$α$ emission could be absorbed by neutral hydrogen gas, perhaps in the system, a modest estimate of the velocity dispersion may be $\gtrsim$ 44 km s$^{-1}$. Together with a linear size of 7.7 $h_{0.7}^{-1}$ kpc, we estimate a lower limit of the dynamical mass of this object to be $\sim 2 \times 10^9 M_\odot$. It is thus suggested that LAE J1044$-$0123 is a star-forming dwarf galaxy (i.e., a subgalactic object or a building block) beyond redshift 5 although we cannot exclude a possibility that most Ly$α$ emission is absorbed by the red damping wing of neutral intergalactic matter.

astro-ph

Narrow band imaging in [OIII] and Halpha to search for ICPNe in the Virgo cluster

We have identified intracluster planetary nebulae in a Virgo cluster core field by imaging with the Subaru Suprime-Cam through two narrow band filters centered at the redshifted wavelengths of the [OIII] $λ=5007$ Åand the H$α$ $λ= 6563$ Ålines; broad-band images in V and R were acquired to check for emission in the adjacent continuum. Emission line objects in Virgo are then selected from the two-color diagram ([OIII] -- Halpha) vs. ([OIII] -- (V+R)), which is calibrated using PNe in M84 (Jacoby et al. 1990). Using both [OIII] and Halpha allows us to distinguish bona-fide planetary nebulae from high redshift emission-line galaxies at the bright end of the [OIII] luminosity function. Spectroscopic observations of a subsample of these objects were made at the TNG and at the VLT, in a region around M84 and in an intracluster field respectively. The observations confirm the efficiency of the combined [OIII]+H$α$ imaging to identify true PNe. We also obtained the first spectrum of an intracluster PN which shows the [OIII] doublet with S/N > 10 and its Halpha emission. From the results based on the spectroscopic follow-up, we derive a lower limit to the fraction of the Virgo cluster light contributed by the intracluster stars at the surveyed position in the cluster core: it amounts to 10%.

astro-ph

Candidates for Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster based on the Suprime-Cam Narrow-Band Imaging in O[III] and Halpha

We have identified 38 candidates of intracluster planetary nebulae (ICPNe) in a $34'\times27'$ field in the core of the Virgo cluster based on the Suprime-Cam imaging through two narrow-band filters centered at the redshifted wavelengths of the [OIII]$λ=5007Å$ and the Halpha λ=6563Ålines. Broad-band images in V and R bands are used to check for any emissions in the adjacent continuum. We describe the method briefly and present the list of intracluster planetary nebulae candidates, together with their finding charts. The ICPN candidates show a highly inhomogeneous distribution, which may suggest an association with the M86-M84 subcluster. Fraction of diffuse intracluster light with respect to total light in galaxies is estimated to be about 10%, leading to an estimate of about 20% for the baryon fraction. Spectroscopic follow up and a wider survey are critical to reveal the nature of intracluster stellar population.

astro-ph

A New High-Redshift Lyman alpha Emitter: Possible Superwind Galaxy at z = 5.69

During the course of our deep optical imaging survey for Ly alpha emitters at z approximately 5.7 in the field around the z=5.74 quasar SDSSp J104433.04-012502.2, we have found a candidate strong emission-line source. Follow-up optical spectroscopy shows that the emission line profile of this object is asymmetric, showing excess red-wing emission. These properties are consistent with an identification of Ly alpha emission at a redshift of z=5.687 +/- 0.002. The observed broad line width, Delta V_{FWHM} ~= 340 km s^{-1} and excess red-wing emission also suggest that this object hosts a galactic superwind.

astro-ph

Chemical Composition of the Carbon-rich, Extremely Metal-Poor Star CS 29498--043: A New Class of Extremely Metal-Poor Stars with Excesses of Magnesium and Silicon

We analyze a high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectrum of the carbon-rich, extremely metal-poor star CS29498-043, obtained with the Subaru Telescope High Dispersion Spectrograph. We find its iron abundance is extremely low ([Fe/H] = -3.7), placing it among the few stars known with [Fe/H] < -3.5, while Mg and Si are significantly overabundant ([Mg/Fe] = +1.8, and [Si/Fe] = +1.1) compared with stars of similar metallicity without carbon excess. Overabundances of N and Al were also found. These characteristics are similar to the carbon-rich, extremely metal-poor star CS22949-037. Though the sample is small, our discovery of CS29498-043 suggests the existence of a class of extremely metal-poor stars with large excesses of C, N, Mg, and Si.

astro-ph