arXiv subjects

Jinyoung Serena Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Jinyoung Serena Kim.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

The First Extensive Spectroscopic Study of Young Stars in the North America and Pelican Nebulae Region

We present a spectroscopic survey of over 3400 potential members in the North America and Pelican nebulae (NAP) using several low-resolution ($R\approx$ 1300-2000) spectrographs: Palomar/Norris, WIYN/HYDRA, Keck/DEIMOS, and MMT/Hectospec. We identify 580 young stars as likely members of the NAP region based on criteria involving infrared excess, Li I 6708 absorption, X-ray emission, parallax, and proper motions. The spectral types of individual spectra are derived by fitting them with templates that are either empirical spectra of pre-main sequence stars, or model atmospheres. The templates are artificially veiled, and a best-fit combination of spectral type and veiling parameter is derived for each star. We use the spectral types with archival photometry to derive $V$-band extinction and stellar luminosity. From the H-R diagram, the median age of the young stars is about 1 Myr, with a luminosity dispersion of $\sim$0.3--0.4 dex. We investigate the photometric variability of the spectroscopic member sample using ZTF data, and conclude that photometric variability, while present, does not significantly contribute to the luminosity dispersion. While larger than the formal errors, the luminosity dispersion is smaller than if veiling were not taken into account in our spectral typing process. The measured ages of stellar kinematic groups, combined with inferred ages for embedded stellar populations revealed by Spitzer, suggests a sequential history of star formation in the NAP region.

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arXiv2020

Spectral classification of B stars: The empirical sequence using SDSS-IV/APOGEE near-IR data

We present a semi-empirical spectral classification scheme for normal B-type stars using near-infrared spectra (1.5-1.7 $μ$m) from the SDSS APOGEE2-N DR14 database. The main motivation for working with B-type stars is their importance in the evolution of young stellar clusters, however we also take advantage of having a numerous sample (316 stars) of B-type star candidates in APOGEE2-N, for which we also have optical (3600-9100 \angstrom) counterparts from the LAMOST survey. By first obtaining an accurate spectral classification of the sources using the LAMOST DR3 spectra and the canonical spectral classification scheme Gray & Corbally 2009, we found a linear relation between optical spectral types and the equivalent widths of the hydrogen lines of the Brackett series in the APOGEE2-N NIR spectra. This relation extends smoothly from a similar relation for O and early-B stars found by Roman-Lopes et al. (2018). This way, we obtain a catalog of B-type sources with features in both the optical and NIR, and a classification scheme refined down to one spectral sub-class.

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arXiv2019

Double-peaked OI profile: a likely signature of the gaseous ring around KH 15D

KH 15D is a well-known spectroscopic binary because of its unique and dramatic photometric variability. The variability is explained by a circumbinary dust ring but the ring itself was never directly detected. We present a new interpretation of the double-peaked [O~{\scriptsize I}]\,$λ$6300 profiles as originating from the hot disk surface of KH 15D. By modeling these profiles, we measure emitting radii between $\sim$0.5--5 au, basically a gaseous ring very similar in radial extent to the dust ring inferred from modeling the system's photometric variability. We also discuss the possibility that external photoevaporation driven by UV photons from the nearby massive star HD~47887 has truncated the outer edge of the disk to the observed value.

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arXiv2019

Near-Infrared Variability of Low Mass Stars in IC 1396A and TR 37

We have monitored nearly a square degree in IC 1396A/Tr 37 over 21 epochs extending over 2014 - 2016 for sources variable in the JHK bands. In our data, 65 +\- 8 % of previously identified cluster members show variations, compared with < 0.3% of field stars. We identify 119 members of Tr 37 on the basis of variability, forming an unbiased sample down to the brown dwarf regime. The K-band luminosity function in Tr 37 is similar to that of IC 348 but shifted to somewhat brighter values, implying that the K- and M-type members of Tr 37 are younger than those in IC 348. We introduce methods to classify the causes of variability, based on behavior in the color-color and color-magnitude diagrams. Accretion hot spots cause larger variations at J than at K with substantial scatter in the diagrams; there are at least a dozen, with the most active resembling EXors. Eleven sources are probably dominated by intervention of dust clumps in their circumstellar disks with color behavior indicating the presence of grains larger than for interstellar dust, presumably due to grain growth in their disks. Thirteen sources have larger variations at K than at J or H. For 11 of them, the temperature fitted to the variable component is very close to 2000K, suggesting that the changes in output are caused by turbulence at the inner rim of the circumstellar disk exposing previously protected populations of grains.

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arXiv2019

High-Energy Photon and Particle Effects onExoplanet Atmospheres and Habitability

It is now recognized that energetic stellar photon and particle radiation evaporates and erodes planetary atmospheres and controls upper atmospheric chemistry. Key exoplanet host stars will be too faint at X-ray wavelengths for accurate characterization using existing generation and future slated X-ray telescopes. Observation of stellar coronal mass ejections and winds are also beyond current instrumentation. In line with theCommittee on an Exoplanet Science Strategy recognition that holistic observational approaches are needed, we point out here that a full understanding of exoplanet atmospheres, their evolution and determination of habitability requires a powerful high-resolution X-ray imaging and spectroscopic observatory. This is the only capability that can: (1) characterize by proxy the crucial, difficult to observe, EUV stellar flux, its history and its variations for planet hosting stars; (2) observe the stellar wind; (3) detect the subtle Doppler signatures of coronal mass ejections.

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arXiv2019

Close companions around young stars

Multiplicity is a fundamental property that is set early during stellar lifetimes, and it is a stringent probe of the physics of star formation. The distribution of close companions around young stars is still poorly constrained by observations. We present an analysis of stellar multiplicity derived from APOGEE-2 spectra obtained in targeted observations of nearby star-forming regions. This is the largest homogeneously observed sample of high-resolution spectra of young stars. We developed an autonomous method to identify double lined spectroscopic binaries (SB2s). Out of 5007 sources spanning the mass range of $\sim$0.05--1.5 \msun, we find 399 binaries, including both RV variables and SB2s. The mass ratio distribution of SB2s is consistent with a uniform for $q<0.95$ with an excess of twins with $q>0.95$. The period distribution is consistent with what has been observed in close binaries ($<10$ AU) in the evolved populations. Three systems are found to have $q\sim$0.1, with a companion located within the brown dwarf desert. There are not any strong trends in the multiplicity fraction (MF) as a function of cluster age from 1 to 100 Myr. There is a weak dependence on stellar density, with companions being most numerous at $Σ_*\sim30$ stars/pc$^{-2}$, and decreasing in more diffuse regions. Finally, disk-bearing sources are deficient in SB2s (but not RV variables) by a factor of $\sim$2; this deficit is recovered by the systems without disks. This may indicate a quick dispersal of disk material in short-period equal mass systems that is less effective in binaries with lower $q$.

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arXiv2019

Protoplanetary Disk Science Enabled by Extremely Large Telescopes

The processes that transform gas and dust in circumstellar disks into diverse exoplanets remain poorly understood. One key pathway is to study exoplanets as they form in their young ($\sim$few~Myr) natal disks. Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) such as GMT, TMT, or ELT, can be used to establish the initial chemical conditions, locations, and timescales of planet formation, via (1)~measuring the physical and chemical conditions in protoplanetary disks using infrared spectroscopy and (2)~studying planet-disk interactions using imaging and spectro-astrometry. Our current knowledge is based on a limited sample of targets, representing the brightest, most extreme cases, and thus almost certainly represents an incomplete understanding. ELTs will play a transformational role in this arena, thanks to the high spatial and spectral resolution data they will deliver. We recommend a key science program to conduct a volume-limited survey of high-resolution spectroscopy and high-contrast imaging of the nearest protoplanetary disks that would result in an unbiased, holistic picture of planet formation as it occurs.

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arXiv2019

Planet formation: The case for large efforts on the computational side

Modern astronomy has finally been able to observe protoplanetary disks in reasonable resolution and detail, unveiling the processes happening during planet formation. These observed processes are understood under the framework of disk-planet interaction, a process studied analytically and modeled numerically for over 40 years. Long a theoreticians' game, the wealth of observational data has been allowing for increasingly stringent tests of the theoretical models. Modeling efforts are crucial to support the interpretation of direct imaging analyses, not just for potential detections but also to put meaningful upper limits on mass accretion rates and other physical quantities in current and future large-scale surveys. This white paper addresses the questions of what efforts on the computational side are required in the next decade to advance our theoretical understanding, explain the observational data, and guide new observations. We identified the nature of accretion, ab initio planet formation, early evolution, and circumplanetary disks as major fields of interest in computational planet formation. We recommend that modelers relax the approximations of alpha-viscosity and isothermal equations of state, on the grounds that these models use flawed assumptions, even if they give good visual qualitative agreement with observations. We similarly recommend that population synthesis move away from 1D hydrodynamics. The computational resources to reach these goals should be developed during the next decade, through improvements in algorithms and the hardware for hybrid CPU/GPU clusters. Coupled with high angular resolution and great line sensitivity in ground based interferometers, ELTs and JWST, these advances in computational efforts should allow for large strides in the field in the next decade.

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arXiv2018

The Intricate Structure of HH 508, the Brightest Microjet in the Orion Nebula

We present Magellan adaptive optics H$α$ imaging of HH 508, which has the highest surface brightness among protostellar jets in the Orion Nebula. We find that HH 508 actually has a shorter component to the west, and a longer and knotty component to the east. The east component has a kink at 0.3" from the jet-driving star $θ^1$ Ori B2, so it may have been deflected by the wind/radiation from the nearby $θ^1$ Ori B1B5. The origin of both components is unclear, but if each of them is a separate jet, then $θ^1$ Ori B2 may be a tight binary. Alternatively, HH 508 may be a slow-moving outflow, and each component represents an illuminated cavity wall. The ionization front surrounding $θ^1$ Ori B2B3 does not directly face $θ^1$ Ori B1B5, suggesting that the EUV radiation from $θ^1$ Ori C plays a dominant role in affecting the morphology of proplyds even in the vicinity of $θ^1$ Ori B1B5. Finally, we report an H$α$ blob that might be ejected by the binary proplyd LV 1.

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arXiv2017

NGC 1980 is not a foreground population of Orion: Spectroscopic survey of young stars with low extinction in Orion A

We perform a spectroscopic survey of the foreground population in Orion A with MMT/Hectospec. We use these data, along with archival spectroscopic data and photometric data, to derive spectral types, extinction values, and masses for 691 stars. Using the Spitzer Space Telescope data, we characterize the disk properties of these sources. We identify 37 new transition disk (TD) objects, one globally depleted disk candidate, and 7 probable young debris disks. We discover an object with a mass less than 0.018-0.030 M$_{\odot}$, which harbors a flaring disk. Using the H$α$ emission line, we characterize the accretion activity of the sources with disks, and confirm that fraction of accreting TDs is lower than that of optically thick disks (46$\pm$7% versus 73$\pm$9%, respectively). Using kinematic data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and APOGEE INfrared Spectroscopy of Young Nebulous Clusters program (IN-SYNC), we confirm that the foreground population shows similar kinematics to their local molecular clouds and other young stars in the same regions. Using the isochronal ages, we find that the foreground population has a median age around 1-2 Myr, which is similar to the one of other young stars in Orion A. Therefore, our results argue against the presence of a large and old foreground cluster in front of Orion A.

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arXiv2016

A Spitzer Space Telescope Survey for Dusty Debris Disks in the Nearby 32 Orionis Group

We report Spitzer Space Telescope IRAC 3.6, 4.5, 5.8 and 8 um and MIPS 24 and 70 um observations of the 32 Ori Group, a recently discovered nearby stellar association situated towards northern Orion. The proximity of the group (~93 pc) has enabled a sensitive search for circumstellar dust around group members, and its age (~20 Myr) corresponds roughly to an epoch thought to be important for terrestrial planet formation in our own solar system. We quantify infrared excess emission due to circumstellar dust among group members, utilizing available optical (e.g. Hipparcos, Tycho) and near-IR (2MASS) photometry in addition to the Spitzer IR photometry. We report 4 out of the 14 objects which exhibit 24 um excess emission more than 4σabove the stellar photosphere (>20%) though lacking excess emission at shorter wavelengths: HD 35656 (A0Vn), HD 36338 (F4.5), RX J0520.5+0616 (K3), and HD 35499 (F4). Two objects (HD 35656 and RX J0520.0+0612) have 70 um excesses, although the latter lacks 24 um excess emission. The 24 um disk fraction of this group is 29(+14,-9%), which is similar to previous findings for groups of comparable ages and places 32 Ori as the young stellar group with the 2nd most abundant 24 um excesses among groups lacking accreting T Tauri stars (behind only the approximately coeval Beta Pic Moving Group). We also model the infrared excess emission using circumstellar dust disk models, placing constraints on disk parameters including L_IR/L_*, T_disk, characteristic grain distance, and emitting area. The L_IR/L_* values for all the stars can be reasonably explained by steady state disk evolution.

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arXiv2016

A candidate planetary-mass object with a photoevaporating disk in Orion

In this work, we report the discovery of a candidate planetary-mass object with a photoevaporating protoplanetary disk, Proplyd 133-353, which is near the massive star $θ^{1}$ Ori C at the center of the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). The object was known to have extended emission pointing away from $θ^{1}$ Ori C, indicating ongoing external photoevaporation. Our near-infrared spectroscopic data suggests that the central source of Proplyd 133-353 is substellar ($\sim$M9.5), might have a mass probably less than 13 Jupiter mass and an age younger than 0.5 Myr. Proplyd 133-353 shows a similar ratio of X-ray luminosity to stellar luminosity to other young stars in the ONC with a similar stellar luminosity, and has a similar proper motion to the mean one of confirmed ONC members. We propose that Proplyd 133-353 was formed in a very low-mass dusty cloud near $θ^{1}$ Ori C as a second-generation of star formation, which can explain both its young age and the presence of its disk.

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arXiv2016

Proplyds around a B1 star - 42 Orionis in NGC 1977

We present the discovery of seven new proplyds (i.e. sources surrounded by cometary Halpha emission characteristic of offset ionization fronts) in NGC 1977, located about 30' north of the Orion Nebula Cluster at a distance of ~400 pc. Each of these proplyds are situated at projected distances 0.04-0.27 pc from the B1V star 42 Orionis (c Ori), which is the main source of UV photons in the region. In all cases the ionization fronts of the proplyds are clearly pointing toward the common ionizing source, 42 Ori, and 6 of the 7 proplyds clearly show tails pointing away from it. These are the first proplyds to be found around a B star, with previously known examples instead being located around O stars, including those in the Orion Nebula Cluster around $θ^1$ Ori C. The radii of the offset ionization fronts in our proplyds are between ~200 and 550 AU; two objects also contain clearly resolved central sources that we associate with disks of radii 50-70 AU. The estimated strength of the FUV radiation field impinging on the proplyds is around 10-30 times less than that incident on the classic proplyds in the Orion Nebula Cluster. We show that the observed proplyd sizes are however consistent with recent models for FUV photoevaporation in relatively weak FUV radiation fields.

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arXiv2015

The O- and B-Type Stellar Population in W3: Beyond the High-Density Layer

We present the first results from our survey of the star-forming complex W3, combining VRI photometry with multiobject spectroscopy to identify and characterize the high-mass stellar population across the region. With 79 new spectral classifications, we bring the total number of spectroscopically-confirmed O- and B-type stars in W3 to 105. We find that the high-mass slope of the mass function in W3 is consistent with a Salpeter IMF, and that the extinction toward the region is best characterized by an Rv of approximately 3.6. B-type stars are found to be more widely dispersed across the W3 giant molecular cloud (GMC) than previously realized: they are not confined to the high-density layer (HDL) created by the expansion of the neighboring W4 HII region into the GMC. This broader B-type population suggests that star formation in W3 began spontaneously up to 8--10 Myr ago, although at a lower level than the more recent star formation episodes in the HDL. In addition, we describe a method of optimizing sky subtraction for fiber spectra in regions of strong and spatially-variable nebular emission.

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arXiv2013

The low-mass stellar population in the young cluster Tr37: Disk evolution, accretion, and environment

We present a study of accretion and protoplanetary disks around M-type stars in the 4 Myr-old cluster Tr37. With a well-studied solar-type population, Tr37 is a benchmark for disk evolution. We used low-resolution spectroscopy to identify 141 members (78 new) and 64 probable members, mostly M-type stars. Hα emission provides information about accretion. Optical, 2MASS, Spitzer, and WISE data are used to trace the SEDs. We construct radiative transfer models to explore the structures of full-disks, pre-transition, transition, and dust-depleted disks. Including the new and previously known members, we confirm that a substantial fraction (~2/5) of disks show signs of evolution, either as radial dust evolution (transition/pre-transition disks) or as a more global evolution (low small-dust masses, dust settling, and weak/absent accretion signatures). Accretion is strongly dependent on the SED type. About half of the transition objects are consistent with no accretion, and dust-depleted disks have weak (or undetectable) accretion signatures, especially among M-type stars. The analysis of accretion and disk structure suggests a parallel evolution of dust and gas. We find several distinct classes of evolved disks, based on SED type and accretion, pointing to different disk dispersal mechanisms and probably different evolutionary paths. Dust depletion and opening of inner holes appear to be independent processes: most transition disks are not dust-depleted, and most dust-depleted disks do not require inner holes. The differences in disk structure between M-type and solar-type stars in Tr37 (4 Myr) are not as remarkable as in the young, sparse, Coronet cluster (1-2 Myr), suggesting that other factors, like the environment/interactions, are likely to play a role in the disk evolution and dispersal. Finally, we also find some evidence of clumpy star formation or mini-clusters within Tr37.

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arXiv2013

Young Stellar Objects in Lynds 1641: Disks, Accretion, and Star Formation History

We investigate the young stellar objects (YSOs) in the Lynds~1641 (L1641) cloud using multi-wavelength data including Spitzer, WISE, 2MASS, and XMM covering ~1390 YSOs across a range of evolutionary stages. In addition, we targeted a sub-sample of YSOs for optical spectroscopy. We use this data, along with archival photometric data, to derive spectral types, extinction values, masses, ages, as well as accretion rates. We obtain a disk fraction of ~50% in L1641. The disk frequency is almost constant as a function of stellar mass with a slight peak at log(M_*/M_sun)\approx-0.25. The analysis of multi-epoch spectroscopic data indicates that the accretion variability of YSOs cannot explain the two orders of magnitude of scatter for YSOs with similar masses. Forty-six new transition disk (TD) objects are confirmed in this work, and we find that the fraction of accreting TDs is lower than for optically thick disks (40--45% vs. 77--79% respectively). We confirm our previous result that the accreting TDs have a similar median accretion rate to normal optically thick disks. We confirm that two star formation modes (isolated vs. clustered) exist in L1641. We find that the diskless YSOs are statistically older than the YSOs with optically-thick disks and the transition disk objects have a median age which is intermediate between the two populations. We tentatively study the star formation history in L1641 based on the age distribution and find that star formation started to be active 2--3 Myr ago.

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arXiv2011

Disk Evolution in OB Associations - Deep Spitzer/IRAC Observations of IC 1795

We present a deep Spitzer/IRAC survey of the OB association IC 1795 carried out to investigate the evolution of protoplanetary disks in regions of massive star formation. Combining Spitzer/IRAC data with Chandra/ACIS observations, we find 289 cluster members. An additional 340 sources with an infrared excess, but without X-ray counterpart, are classified as cluster member candidates. Both surveys are complete down to stellar masses of about 1 Msun. We present pre-main sequence isochrones computed for the first time in the Spitzer/IRAC colors. The age of the cluster, determined via the location of the Class III sources in the [3.6]-[4.5]/[3.6] color-magnitude diagram, is in the range of 3 - 5 Myr. As theoretically expected, we do not find any systematic variation in the spatial distribution of disks within 0.6 pc of either O-type star in the association. However, the disk fraction in IC 1795 does depend on the stellar mass: sources with masses >2 Msun have a disk fraction of ~20%, while lower mass objects (2-0.8 Msun) have a disk fraction of ~50%. This implies that disks around massive stars have a shorter dissipation timescale.

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arXiv2008

Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems (FEPS): Properties of Debris Dust around Solar-type Stars

We present Spitzer photometric (IRAC and MIPS) and spectroscopic (IRS low resolution) observations for 314 stars in the Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems (FEPS) Legacy program. These data are used to investigate the properties and evolution of circumstellar dust around solar-type stars spanning ages from approximately 3 Myr to 3 Gyr. We identify 46 sources that exhibit excess infrared emission above the stellar photosphere at 24um, and 21 sources with excesses at 70um. Five sources with an infrared excess have characteristics of optically thick primordial disks, while the remaining sources have properties akin to debris systems. The fraction of systems exhibiting a 24um excess greater than 10.2% above the photosphere is 15% for ages < 300 Myr and declines to 2.7% for older ages. The upper envelope to the 70um fractional luminosity appears to decline over a similar age range. The characteristic temperature of the debris inferred from the IRS spectra range between 60 and 180 K, with evidence for the presence of cooler dust to account for the strength of the 70um excess emission. No strong correlation is found between dust temperature and stellar age. Comparison of the observational data with disk models containing a power-law distribution of silicate grains suggest that the typical inner disk radius is > 10 AU. Although the interpretation is not unique, the lack of excess emission shortwards of 16um and the relatively flat distribution of the 24um excess for ages <300~Myr is consistent with steady-state collisional models.

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