arXiv subjects

Ryosuke Itoh

Publications and source records attributed to Ryosuke Itoh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

J-GEM near-infrared follow-up observations of the gravitational wave event S240422ed

We report our near-infrared (NIR) follow-up observations of the gravitational wave (GW) event S240422ed using the Subaru Telescope/MOIRCS. S240422ed was initially classified as a black hole-neutron star merger with $>$ 99% probability of electromagnetic wave emission. We started follow-up observations 7.8 hours after the event. Over two nights, we observed 206 nearby galaxies in $Y$ and $K_{\rm s}$ bands down to about 21.4 and 21.1 AB mag (3$\sigma$), respectively. The total completeness of our survey based on galaxy $B$-band luminosity is 22%. As a result of our observations, five candidate counterparts were identified. We show that properties of these five objects are not consistent with kilonova such as AT2017gfo. Four objects are consistent with known classes of transients such as supernovae or dwarf nova outbursts. On the other hand, the nature of the remaining one object, which shows a red color and rapid decline, remains unclear. Although later analyses of GW signal reclassified S240422ed as likely terrestrial noise, our NIR observations provide valuable lessons for future NIR surveys for GW sources. We demonstrate that deep NIR follow-up observations as presented in this work would effectively constrain the presence of red kilonova even at 200 Mpc distance. We also discuss the importance of deep and wide NIR reference images and of understanding the properties and frequency of Galactic transients.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Long term variability of light-pollution in Bisei Town

Bisei town, located in the west part of Japan, is known as a place where the local community protects its beautiful night sky from light pollution through its unique ordinances and the efforts of the local residents. It is also important to monitor in the quantity and quality of light pollution for precise measurement of astronomical observations. The fluorescent lamps in the city were gradually replaced with light emitting diode (LED) lamps. In order to investigate how much light pollution is affecting astronomical observation, we analyzed the archival photometric and spectroscopic data taken by the 101cm telescope that has been installed at Bisei Astronomical Observatory (BAO) since 2006. As a result, we found that there is no significant variability in sky brightness in optical bands, but from spectroscopic observation, we observed a blue humps around 4500 \AA originating from LED lights from 2017 to 2023. The brightness of light pollution observed at BAO is not varied but the origin of light has gradually changed from fluorescent lamps to LED lamps.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2022

In search of short gamma-ray burst optical counterpart with the Zwicky Transient Facility

The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) triggers on-board in response to $\sim$ 40 short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs) per year; however, their large localization regions have made the search for optical counterparts a challenging endeavour. We have developed and executed an extensive program with the wide field of view of the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) camera, mounted on the Palomar 48 inch Oschin telescope (P48), to perform target-of-opportunity (ToO) observations on 10 Fermi-GBM SGRBs during 2018 and 2020-2021. Bridging the large sky areas with small field of view optical telescopes in order to track the evolution of potential candidates, we look for the elusive SGRB afterglows and kilonovae (KNe) associated with these high-energy events. No counterpart has yet been found, even though more than 10 ground based telescopes, part of the Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) network, have taken part in these efforts. The candidate selection procedure and the follow-up strategy have shown that ZTF is an efficient instrument for searching for poorly localized SGRBs, retrieving a reasonable number of candidates to follow-up and showing promising capabilities as the community approaches the multi-messenger era. Based on the median limiting magnitude of ZTF, our searches would have been able to retrieve a GW170817-like event up to $\sim$ 200 Mpc and SGRB afterglows to z = 0.16 or 0.4, depending on the assumed underlying energy model. Future ToOs will expand the horizon to z = 0.2 and 0.7 respectively.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

J-GEM optical and near-infrared follow-up of gravitational wave events during LIGO's and Virgo's third observing run

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration (LVC) sent out 56 gravitational-wave (GW) notices during the third observing run (O3). Japanese collaboration for Gravitational wave ElectroMagnetic follow-up (J-GEM) performed optical and near-infrared observations to identify and observe an electromagnetic (EM) counterpart. We constructed web-based system which enabled us to obtain and share information of candidate host galaxies for the counterpart, and status of our observations. Candidate host galaxies were selected from the GLADE catalog with a weight based on the three-dimensional GW localization map provided by LVC. We conducted galaxy-targeted and wide-field blind surveys, real-time data analysis, and visual inspection of observed galaxies. We performed galaxy-targeted follow-ups to 23 GW events during O3, and the maximum probability covered by our observations reached to 9.8%. Among them, we successfully started observations for 10 GW events within 0.5 days after the detection. This result demonstrates that our follow-up observation has a potential to constrain EM radiation models for a merger of binary neutron stars at a distance of up to $\sim$100~Mpc with a probability area of $\leq$ 500~deg$^2$.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Follow-up Observations for IceCube-170922A: Detection of Rapid Near-Infrared Variability and Intensive Monitoring of TXS 0506+056

We present our follow-up observations to search for an electromagnetic counterpart of the IceCube high-energy neutrino, IceCube-170922A. Monitoring observations of a likely counterpart, TXS 0506+056, are also described. First, we quickly took optical and near-infrared images of 7 flat-spectrum radio sources within the IceCube error region right after the neutrino detection and found a rapid flux decline of TXS 0506+056 in Kanata/HONIR J-band data. Motivated by this discovery, intensive follow-up observations of TXS 0506+056 are continuously done, including our monitoring imaging observations, spectroscopic observations, and polarimetric observations in optical and near-infrared wavelengths. TXS 0506+056 shows a large amplitude (~1.0 mag) variability in a time scale of several days or longer, although no significant variability is detected in a time scale of a day or shorter. TXS 0506+056 also shows a bluer-when-brighter trend in optical and near-infrared wavelengths. Structure functions of variabilities are examined and indicate that TXS 0506+056 is not a special blazar in terms of optical variability. Polarization measurement results of TXS 0506+056 are also discussed.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Performance of the Unified Readout System of Belle II

The Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB collider at KEK, Tsukuba, Japan has successfully started taking data with the full detector in March 2019. Belle II is a luminosity frontier experiment of the new generation to search for physics beyond the Standard Model of elementary particles, from precision measurements of a huge number of B and charm mesons and tau leptons. In order to read out the events at a high rate from the seven subdetectors of Belle II, we adopt a highly unified readout system, including a unified trigger timing distribution system (TTD), a unified high speed data link system (Belle2link), and a common backend system to receive Belle2link data. Each subdetector frontend readout system has a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) in which unified firmware components of the TTD receiver and Belle2link transmitter are embedded. The system is designed for data taking at a trigger rate up to 30 kHz with a dead-time fraction of about 1% in the frontend readout system. The trigger rate is still much lower than our design. However, the background level is already high due to the initial vacuum condition and other accelerator parameters, and it is the most limiting factor of the accelerator and detector operation. Hence the occupancy and radiation effects to the frontend electronics are rather severe, and they cause various kind of instabilities. We present the performance of the system, including the achieved trigger rate, dead-time fraction, stability, and discuss the experience gained during the operation.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Blazar Radio and Optical Survey (BROS): A catalog of blazar candidates showing flat radio spectrum and their optical identification in Pan-STARRS1 Surveys

Utilizing the latest and the most sensitive radio and optical catalogs, we completed a new blazar candidate catalog, Blazar Radio and Optical Survey (BROS), which includes 88,211 sources located at declination $δ> -40^{\circ}$ and outside the galactic plane ($|b| > 10^{\circ}$). We list compact flat-spectrum radio sources of $α> -0.6$ ($α$ is defined as $F_ν \propto ν^α$ ) from 0.15~GHz TGSS and 1.4~GHz NVSS catalogs. We further identify optical counterparts of the selected sources by cross-matching with Pan-STARRS1 photometric data. Color-color and color-magnitude plots for the selected BROS sources clearly show two distinct populations, An "quasar-like" population consisting of both flat-spectrum radio quasars and BL Lac type objects. On the other hand, an "elliptical-like" population of mostly BL Lac-type objects is buried in the elliptical galaxy. We emphasize that the latter population is missed by previous catalogs but newly emerged in the present BROS catalog, due to the lower radio flux threshold of our selection. Model calculations show that the "elliptical-like" population consists of elliptical galaxies located at redshift z $\lesssim$ 0.5, which is also supported by the logN-logS distribution of the power-law index of $1.49 \pm 0.05$. This BROS catalog is useful for identifying the electromagnetic counterparts of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and PeV neutrinos recently detected by IceCube, as well as nearby BL Lac objects detectable by future high sensitivity TeV telescopes, such as Cherenkov Telescope Array.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Characterization of the Nucleus, Morphology and Activity of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov by Optical and Near-Infrared GROWTH, Apache Point, IRTF, ZTF and Keck Observations

We present visible and near-infrared photometric and spectroscopic observations of interstellar object 2I/Borisov taken from 2019 September 10 to 2019 November 29 using the GROWTH, the APO ARC 3.5 m and the NASA/IRTF 3.0 m combined with post and pre-discovery observations of 2I obtained by ZTF from 2019 March 17 to 2019 May 5. Comparison with imaging of distant Solar System comets shows an object very similar to mildly active Solar System comets with an out-gassing rate of $\sim$10$^{27}$ mol/sec. The photometry, taken in filters spanning the visible and NIR range shows a gradual brightening trend of $\sim0.03$ mags/day since 2019 September 10 UTC for a reddish object becoming neutral in the NIR. The lightcurve from recent and pre-discovery data reveals a brightness trend suggesting the recent onset of significant H$_2$O sublimation with the comet being active with super volatiles such as CO at heliocentric distances $>$6 au consistent with its extended morphology. Using the advanced capability to significantly reduce the scattered light from the coma enabled by high-resolution NIR images from Keck adaptive optics taken on 2019 October 04, we estimate a diameter of 2I's nucleus of $\lesssim$1.4 km. We use the size estimates of 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov to roughly estimate the slope of the ISO size-distribution resulting in a slope of $\sim$3.4$\pm$1.2, similar to Solar System comets and bodies produced from collisional equilibrium.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

Variations of the physical parameters of the blazar Mrk 421 based on the analysis of the spectral energy distributions

We report on the variations of the physical parameters of the jet observed in the blazar Mrk 421, and discuss the origin of X-ray flares in the jet, based on the analysis of the several spectral energy distributions (SEDs). The SEDs are modeled using the one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model and its parameters determined using a Markov chain Monte Carlo method. The lack of data at TeV energies means many of the parameters cannot be uniquely determined and are correlated. These are studied in detail. We found that the optimal solution can be uniquely determined only when we apply a constraint to one of four parameters: the magnetic field (B), Doppler factor, size of the emitting region, and normalization factor of the electron energy distribution. We used 31 sets of SED from 2009 to 2014 with optical-UV data observed with UVOT/Swift and the Kanata telescope, X-ray data with XRT/Swift, and gamma-ray data with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). The result of our SED analysis suggests that, in the X-ray faint state, the emission occurs in a relatively small area (~ 10^16 cm) with relatively strong magnetic field (B~10^-1 G). The X-ray bright state shows a tendency opposite to that of the faint state, that is, a large emitting area (~10^18 cm), probably in the downstream of the jet and weak magnetic field (B~10^-3 G). The high X-ray flux was due to an increase in the maximum energy of electrons. On the other hand, the presence of two kinds of emitting areas implies that the one-zone model is unsuitable to reproduce, at least a part of the observed SEDs.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Evidence for planetary hypothesis for PTFO 8-8695b with five-year optical/infrared monitoring observations

PTFO 8-8695b (CVSO 30b) is a young planet candidate whose host star is a $\sim$ 2.6 Myr-old T-Tauri star, and there have been continuous discussions about the nature of this system. To unveil the mystery of this system, we observed PTFO8-8695 for around five years at optical and infrared bands simultaneously using Kanata telescope at the Higashi-Hiroshima Observatory. Through our observations, we found that the reported fading event split into two: deeper but phase-shifted "dip-A" and shallower but equiphase "dip-B". These dips disappeared at different epochs, and then, dip-B reappeared. Based on the observed wavelength dependence of dip depths, a dust clump and a precessing planet are likely origins of dip-A and B, respectively. Here we propose "a precessing planet associated with a dust cloud" scenario for this system. This scenario is consistent with the reported change in the depth of fading events, and even with the reported results, which were thought to be negative evidence to the planetary hypothesis, such as the past non-detection of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect. If this scenario is correct, this is the third case of a young (<3 Myr) planet around a pre-main sequence star. This finding implies that a planet can be formed within a few Myr.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2019

Multiband optical flux density and polarization microvariability study of optically bright blazars

We present the results of flux density, spectral index, and polarization intra-night monitoring studies of a sample of eight optically bright blazars, carried out by employing several small to moderate aperture (0.4\,m to 1.5\,m diameter) telescopes fitted with CCDs and polarimeters located in Europe, India, and Japan. The duty cycle of flux variability for the targets is found to be $\sim 45$ percent, similar to that reported in earlier studies. The computed two-point spectral indices are found to be between 0.65 to 1.87 for our sample, comprised of low- and intermediate frequency peaked blazars, with one exception; they are also found to be statistically variable for about half the instances where `confirmed' variability is detected in flux density. In the analysis of the spectral evolution of the targets on hourly timescale, a counter-clockwise loop (soft-lagging) is noted in the flux-spectral index plane on two occasions, and in one case a clear spectral flattening with the decreasing flux is observed. In our data set, we also observe a variety of flux-polarization degree variability patterns, including instances with a relatively straightforward anti-correlation, correlation, or counter-clockwise looping. These changes are typically reflected in the flux-polarization angle plane: the anti-correlation between the flux and polarization degree is accompanied by an anti-correlation between the polarization angle and flux, while the counter-clockwise flux-PD looping behaviour is accompanied by a clockwise looping in the flux-polarization angle representation. We discuss our findings in the framework of the internal shock scenario for blazar sources.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Near-infrared Monitoring of the Accretion Outburst in the MYSO S255-NIRS3

We followed-up the massive young stellar object (MYSO) S255-NIRS3 (=S255-IRS1b) during its recent accretion outburst event in the Ks band with Kanata/HONIR for four years after its burst and obtained a long-term light curve. This is the most complete NIR light-curve of the S255-NIRS3 burst event that has ever been presented. The light curve showed a steep increase reaching a peak flux that was 3.4 mag brighter than the quiescent phase and then a relatively moderate year-scale fading until the last observation, similar to that of the accretion burst events such as EXors found in lower-mass young stellar objects. The behavior of the Ks band light curve is similar to that observed in 6.7 GHz class II methanol maser emission, with a sudden increase followed by moderate year-scale fading. However, the maser emission peaks appear 30-50 days earlier than that of the Ks band emission. The similarities confirmed that the origins of the maser emission and the Ks band continuum emission is common as previously shown from another infrared and radio observations by Stecklum et al. (2016); Caratti o Garatti et al. (2017a); Moscadelli et al. (2017). However, the differences in energy transfer paths, such as the exciting/emitting/scattering structures, may cause the delay in the flux-peak dates.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

X-ray and Optical Observations of the Black Hole Candidate MAXI J1828-249

We report results from X-ray and optical observations of the Galactic black hole candidate MAXI J1828-249, performed with Suzaku and the Kanata telescope around the X-ray flux peak in the 2013 outburst. The time-averaged X-ray spectrum covering 0.6--168 keV was approximately characterized by a strong multi-color disk blackbody component with an inner disk temperature of ~0.6 keV, and a power-law tail with a photon index of ~2.0. We detected an additional structure at 5-10 keV, which can be modelled neither with X-ray reflection on the disk, nor relativistic broadening of the disk emission. Instead, it was successfully reproduced with a Comptonization of disk photons by thermal electrons with a relatively low temperature (<~10 keV). We infer that the source was in the intermediate state, considering its long-term trend in the hardness intensity diagram, the strength of the spectral power-law tail, and its variability properties. The low-temperature Comptonization component could be produced in a boundary region between the truncated standard disk and the hot inner flow, or a Comptonizing region that somehow developed above the disk surface. The multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution suggests that the optical and UV fluxes were dominated by irradiated outer disk emission.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Spectropolarimetry of the superwind filaments of the starburst galaxy M82 II: kinematics of the dust surrounding the nuclear starburst

We performed deep spectropolarimetric observations of a prototypical starburst galaxy M82 with the Subaru Telescope in order to study the kinematics of the dust outflow. We obtained optical polarized emission-line spectra up to $\sim$4~kpc away from the nucleus of the galaxy along three position angles within the conical outflowing wind (superwind). The H$α$ emission line in the superwind is strongly polarized and the polarization pattern shows dust scattering of central light sources, being consistent with the previous works. The intensity weighted polarization degree of the H$α$ line reaches $\sim$30\%\ at maximum. There are at least two light sources at the central region of the galaxy; one of which is located at the near-infrared nucleus and the other resides at one of the peaks of the 3 mm radio and molecular gas emission. The outer (> 1 kpc) dust is illuminated by the former, whereas the inner dust is scattering the light from the latter. We investigated as well the dust motion from the velocity field of the polarized H$α$ emission line. The dust is accelerated outward on the northwest side of the nucleus. A simple bi-conical dust outflow model shows that the outflow velocity of the dust reaches $\gtrsim 300-450$ km/s at $\sim 4$ kpc from the nucleus, suggesting that some portion of the dust escapes from the gravitational potential of M82 into the intergalactic space. At some regions on the southeast side, in particular along the position angle of 138$^\circ$, the dust has radial velocity slower than the systemic velocity of the galaxy, apparently suggesting inflowing motion toward the nucleus. These components are spatially consistent with a part of the molecular gas stream, which is kinematically independent of the outflow gas, thus the apparent inflow motion of the dust reflects the streaming motion associated with the molecular gas stream.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

The Fast, Luminous Ultraviolet Transient AT2018cow: Extreme Supernova, or Disruption of a Star by an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole?

Wide-field optical surveys have begun to uncover large samples of fast (t_rise < 5d), luminous (M_peak < -18), blue transients. While commonly attributed to the breakout of a supernova shock into a dense wind, the great distances to the transients of this class found so far have hampered detailed investigation of their properties. We present photometry and spectroscopy from a comprehensive worldwide campaign to observe AT2018cow (ATLAS18qqn), the first fast-luminous optical transient to be found in real time at low redshift. Our first spectra (<2 days after discovery) are entirely featureless. A very broad absorption feature suggestive of near-relativistic velocities develops between 3-8 days, then disappears. Broad emission features of H and He develop after >10 days. The spectrum remains extremely hot throughout its evolution, and the photospheric radius contracts with time (receding below R<10^14 cm after 1 month). This behaviour does not match that of any known supernova, although a relativistic jet within a fallback supernova could explain some of the observed features. Alternatively, the transient could originate from the disruption of a star by an intermediate-mass black hole, although this would require long-lasting emission of highly super-Eddington thermal radiation. In either case, AT2018cow suggests that the population of fast luminous transients represents a new class of astrophysical event. Intensive follow-up of this event in its late phases, and of any future events found at comparable distance, will be essential to better constrain their origins.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

X-ray, Optical, and Near-infrared Monitoring of the New X-ray Transient MAXI J1820+070 in the Low/hard State

We report X-ray, optical, and near-infrared monitoring of the new X-ray transient MAXI J1820$+$070 discovered with MAXI on 2018 March 11. Its X-ray intensity reached $\sim 2$ Crab in 2--20 keV at the end of March, and then gradually decreased until the middle of June. In this period, the X-ray spectrum was described by Comptonization of the disk emission, with a photon index of $\sim$1.5 and an electron temperature of $\sim$50 keV, which is consistent with a black hole X-ray binary in the low/hard state. The electron temperature and the photon index were slightly decreased and increased with increasing flux, respectively. The source showed significant X-ray flux variation on timescales of seconds. This short-term variation was found to be associated with changes in the spectral shape, and the photon index became slightly harder at higher fluxes. This suggests that the variation was produced by a change in the properties of the hot electron cloud responsible for the strong Comptonization. Modeling a multi-wavelength SED around the X-ray flux peak at the end of March, covering the near-infrared to X-ray bands, we found that the optical and near-infrared fluxes were likely contributed substantially by the jet emission. Before this outburst, the source was never detected in the X-ray band with MAXI (with a 3$σ$ upper limit of $\sim$0.2 mCrab in 4--10 keV, obtained from the 7-year data in 2009--2016), whereas weak optical and infrared activity was found at their flux levels $\sim$3 orders of magnitude lower than the peak fluxes in the outburst.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Extended Optical/NIR Observations of Type Iax Supernova 2014dt: Possible Signatures of a Bound Remnant

We present optical and near-infrared observations of the nearby Type Iax supernova (SN) 2014dt from 14 to 410 days after the maximum light. The velocities of the iron absorption lines in the early phase indicated that SN 2014dt showed slower expansion than the well-observed Type Iax SNe 2002cx, 2005hk and 2012Z. In the late phase, the evolution of the light curve and that of the spectra were considerably slower. The spectral energy distribution kept roughly the same shape after ~100 days, and the bolometric light curve flattened during the same period. These observations suggest the existence of an optically thick component that almost fully trapped the γ-ray energy from 56 Co decay. These findings are consistent with the predictions of the weak deflagration model, leaving a bound white dwarf remnant after the explosion.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

B2BII - Data conversion from Belle to Belle II

We describe the conversion of simulated and recorded data by the Belle experiment to the Belle~II format with the software package \texttt{b2bii}. It is part of the Belle~II Analysis Software Framework. This allows the validation of the analysis software and the improvement of analyses based on the recorded Belle dataset using newly developed analysis tools.

hep-ex↗