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Y. Sato

Publications and source records attributed to Y. Sato.

107 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

A Multi-band Photometric Study of Tidal Debris in A Compact Group of Galaxies: Seyfert's Sextet

In order to investigate the properties of the prominent tidal debris feature extending to the northeast of the compact group of galaxies Seyfert's Sextet, we analyzed multi-band (U, B, V, VR, R, I, J, H and K') photometric imaging data and obtained the following results: 1) The radial surface brightness distribution of this tidal debris in Seyfert's Sextet (TDSS) in each band appears to be well approximated by an exponential profile. 2) The observed B-V color of TDSS is similar to those of dwarf elliptical galaxies in nearby clusters. 3) Comparing the spectral energy distribution (SED) of TDSS with theoretical photometric evolution models and with the SED of the stars in the outer part of HCG 79b, we find that its SED is comparable to that of a $\sim$ 10 Gyr-old stellar population with solar metallicity, similar to the stellar population in the outer part of HCG 79b. This suggests that TDSS consists of stars that may have been liberated from HCG 79b by strong galaxy interactions, not a pre-existing dwarf galaxy previously thought.

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ISO continuum observations of quasars at z=1-4 I.Spectral energy distributions of quasars from the UV to far-infrared

Eight luminous quasars with $ -30 < M_B < -27$ at z = 1.4 - 3.7 have been observed in the mid- and far-infrared using ISO. All the quasars have been detected in the mid-infrared bands of ISOCAM, while no far-infrared detections have been made with ISOPHOT. Supplementing ISO observations with photometry in the optical and near-infrared made from the ground mostly within 17 months after the ISO observations, SEDs (Spectral Energy Distributions) from the UV to far-infrared have been obtained. SEDs (Spectral Energy Distributions) from the UV to far-infrared have been obtained while supplementing ISO observations with photometry in the optical and near-infrared made from the ground within 17 months. The SEDs are compared with the MED (Mean spectral Energy Distributions) of low-redshift quasars with $-27 < M_B < -22$. It is shown that our far-infrared observations were limited by confusion noise due to crowded sources.

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Deep Optical Imaging of A Compact Group of Galaxies, Seyfert's Sextet

In order to investigate the dynamical status of Seyfert's Sextet (SS), we have obtained a deep optical ($VR+I$) image of this group. Our image shows that a faint envelope, down to a surface brightness $μ_{\rm optical}$(AB) $\simeq 27$ mag arcsec$^{-2}$, surrounds the member galaxies. This envelope is irregular in shape. It is likely that this shape is attributed either to recent-past or to on-going galaxy interactions in SS. If the member galaxies have experienced a number of mutual interactions over a long timescale, the shape of the envelope should be rounder. Therefore, the irregular-shaped morphology suggests that SS is in an early phase of dynamical interaction among the member galaxies. It is interesting to note that the soft X-ray image obtained with ROSAT (Pildis et al. 1995) is significantly similar in morphology. We discuss the possible future evolution of SS briefly.

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ISO deep far-infrared survey in the "Lockman Hole" II. Power spectrum analysis: evidence of a strong evolution in number counts

We investigate the characteristics of FIR brightness fluctuations at 90 micron and 170 micron in the Lockman Hole, which were surveyed with ISOPHOT aboard the Infrared Space Observatory(ISO). We first calculated the angular correlation function of each field and then its Fourier transform(the angular Power Spectral Density: PSD) over the spatial frequency range of f=0.05 - 1 arcmin^-1. The PSDs are found to be rather flat at low spatial frequencies (f <= 0.1 arcmin^-1), slowly decreasing toward higher frequencies. These spectra are unlike the power-law ones seen in the IR cirrus fluctuations, and are well explained by randomly distributed point sources. Furthermore, point-to-point comparison between 90 micron and 170 micron brightness shows a linear correlation between them, and the slope of the linear fit is much shallower than that expected from the IR cirrus color, and is consistent with the color of galaxies at low or moderate redshift(z < 1). We conclude that the brightness fluctuations in the Lockman Hole are not caused by the IR cirrus, but are most likely due to faint star-forming galaxies. We also give the constraints on the galaxy number counts down to 35 mJy at 90 micron and 60 mJy at 170 micron, which indicate the existence of a strong evolution down to these fluxes in the counts. The galaxies responsible for the fluctuations also significantly contribute to the cosmic infrared background radiation.

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Very High-Energy Gamma-Ray Observations of PSR B1509-58 with the CANGAROO 3.8m Telescope

The gamma-ray pulsar PSR B1509-58 and its surrounding nebulae have been observed with the CANGAROO 3.8m imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope. The observations were performed from 1996 to 1998 in Woomera, South Australia, under different instrumental conditions with estimated threshold energies of 4.5 TeV (1996), 1.9 TeV (1997) and 2.5 TeV (1998) at zenith angles of ~30 deg. Although no strong evidence of the gamma-ray emission was found, the lowest energy threshold data of 1997 showed a marginal excess of gamma-ray--like events at the 4.1 sigma significance level. The corresponding gamma-ray flux is calculated to be (2.9 +/- 0.7) * 10^{-12}cm^{-2}s^{-1} above 1.9 TeV. The observations of 1996 and 1998 yielded only upper limits (99.5% confidence level) of 1.9 * 10^{-12}cm^{-2}s^{-1} above 4.5 TeV and 2.0 * 10^{-12}cm^{-2}s^{-1} above 2.5 TeV, respectively. Assuming that the 1997 excess is due to Very High-Energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from the pulsar nebula, our result, when combined with the X-ray observations, leads to a value of the magnetic field strength ~5 micro G. This is consistent with the equipartition value previously estimated in the X-ray nebula surrounding the pulsar. No significant periodicity at the 150ms pulsar period has been found in any of the three years' data. The flux upper limits set from our observations are one order of magnitude below previously reported detections of pulsed TeV emission.

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The Lick Observatory Supernova Search

We report here the current status of the Lick Observatory Supernova Search (LOSS) with the Katman Automatic Imaging Telescope (KAIT). The progress on both the hardware and the software of the system is described, and we present a list of recent discoveries. LOSS is the world' most successful search engine for nearby supernovae.

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Initial Performance of CANGAROO-II 7m telescope

CANGAROO group constructed an imaging air Cherenkov telescope (CANGAROO-II) in March 1999 atWoomera, South Australia to observe celestial gamma-rays in hundreds GeV region. It has a 7m parabolic mirror consisting of 60 small plastic spherical mirrors, and the prime focus is equipped with a multi-pixel camera of 512 PMTs covering the field of view of 3 degrees. We report initial performance of the telescope.

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The Cangaroo-III Project

The CANGAROO-III project,which consists of an array of four 10 m imaging Cherenkov telescopes,has just started being constructed in Woomera, South Australia,in a collaboration between Australia and Japan. The first stereoscopic observation of celestial high-energy gamma-rays in the 100 GeV region with two telescopes will start in 2002,and the four telescope array will be completed in 2004. The concept of the project and the expected performance are discussed.

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An Optical Reflector for the CANGAROO-II Telescope

We have been successful in developing light and durable mirrors made of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) laminates for the reflector of the new CANGAROO-II 7 m telescope. The reflector has a parabolic shape (F/1.1) with a 30 m^2 effective area which consists of 60 small spherical mirrors of CFRP laminates. The orientation of each mirror can be remotely adjusted by stepping motors. After the first adjustment work, the reflector offers a point image of about $0.^\circ 14$ (FWHM) on the optic axis.

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Search for TeV Gamma Rays from the SNR RXJ1713.7-3946

The shell type SNR RXJ1713.7-3946 is a new SNR discovered by the ROSAT all sky survey. Recently, strong non-thermal X-ray emission from the northwest part of the remnant was detected by the ASCA satellite. This synchrotron X-ray emission strongly suggests the existence of electrons with energies up to hundreds of TeV in the remnant. This SNR is, therefore, a good candidate TeV gamma ray source, due to the Inverse Compton scattering of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation by the shock accelerated ultra-relativistic electrons, as seen in SN1006. In this paper, we report a preliminary result of TeV gamma-ray observations of the SNR RXJ1713.7-3946 by the CANGAROO 3.8m telescope at Woomera, South Australia.

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Construction of New 7m Imaging Air Čerenkov Telescope of CANGAROO

CANGAROO group has constructed the new large imaging Air \v Cerenkov telescope to exploit hundred GeV region gamma-ray astronomy in March 1999 at Woomera, South Australia. It has a 7m parabolic mirror consisting of 60 small plastic spherical mirrors, and a fine imaging camera with 512 PMTs covering the field of view of 3 degree. Observation will start from July 1999.

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Dusty star forming galaxies at high redshift

The global star formation rate in high redshift galaxies, based on optical surveys, shows a strong peak at a redshift of z=1.5, which implies that we have already seen most of the formation. High redshift galaxies may, however, emit most of their energy at submillimeter wavelengths if they contain substantial amounts of dust. The dust would absorb the starlight and reradiate it as far-infrared light, which would be redshifted to the submillimeter range. Here we report a deep survey of two blank regions of sky performed at submillimeter wavelengths (450 and 850-micron). If the sources we detect in the 850-micron band are powered by star formation, then each must be converting more than 100 solar masses of gas per year into stars, which is larger than the maximum star formation rates inferred for most optically-selected galaxies. The total amount of high redshift star formation is essentially fixed by the level of background light, but where the peak occurs in redshift for the submillimeter is not yet established. However, the background light contribution from only the sources detected at 850-micron is already comparable to that from the optically-selected sources. Establishing the main epoch of star formation will therefore require a combination of optical and submillimeter studies.

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Discovery of TeV Gamma Rays from SN1006: Further Evidence for the SNR Origin of Cosmic Rays

This paper reports the first discovery of TeV gamma-ray emission from a supernova remnant made with the CANGAROO 3.8 m Telescope. TeV gamma rays were detected at the sky position and extension coincident with the north-east (NE) rim of shell-type Supernova remnant (SNR) SN1006 (Type Ia). SN1006 has been a most likely candidate for an extended TeV Gamma-ray source, since the clear synchrotron X-ray emission from the rims was recently observed by ASCA (Koyama et al. 1995), which is a strong evidence of the existence of very high energy electrons up to hundreds of TeV in the SNR. The observed TeV gamma-ray flux was $(2.4\pm 0.5(statistical) \pm 0.7(systematic)) \times 10^{-12}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ ($\ge 3.0\pm 0.9$ TeV) and $ (4.6\pm 0.6 \pm 1.4) \times 10^{-12}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ ($\ge 1.7\pm 0.5$ TeV) from the 1996 and 1997 observations, respectively. Also we set an upper limit on the TeV gamma-ray emission from the SW rim, estimated to be $ 1.1 \times 10^{-12}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ ($\ge 1.7\pm 0.5$ TeV, 95% CL) in the 1997 data. The TeV gamma rays can be attributed to the 2.7 K cosmic background photons up-scattered by electrons of energies up to about 10$^{14}$ eV by the inverse Compton (IC) process. The observed flux of the TeV gamma rays, together with that of the non-thermal X-rays, gives firm constraints on the acceleration process in the SNR shell; a magnetic field of $6.5\pm2$ $μ$G is inferred from both the synchrotron X-rays and inverse Compton TeV gamma-rays, which gives entirely consistent mechanisms that electrons of energies up to 10$^{14}$ eV are produced via the shock acceleration in SN1006.

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Moduli Effects on Neutrino Oscillations

We point out the possibility to detect the low-energy signals of moduli in the superstring theory through the neutrino oscillation. The idea is based on the characteristics that the couplings of moduli are different from matter to matter. We estimate the oscillation probability both in the baseline and solar neutrino oscillations. In both cases, when there is at least one modulus of which mass is less than or equal to $10^{-19}$ GeV, the interaction of the modulus significantly changes the conversion probability from one neutrino flavor to another.

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Measurement of B(D_s+ -> mu+ nu_mu)/B(D_s+ -> phi mu+ nu_mu) and Determination of the Decay Constant f_{D_s}

We have observed $23.2 \pm 6.0_{-0.9}^{+1.0}$ purely-leptonic decays of $D_s^+ -> μ^+ ν_μ$ from a sample of muonic one prong decay events detected in the emulsion target of Fermilab experiment E653. Using the $D_s^+ -> ϕμ^+ ν_μ$ yield measured previously in this experiment, we obtain $B(D_s^+ --> μ^+ ν_μ) / B(D_s^+ --> ϕμ^+ ν_μ) =0.16 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.03$. In addition, we extract the decay constant $f_{D_s}=194 \pm 35 \pm 20 \pm 14 MeV$.

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Neutrino Oscillations by Interaction with Moduli

We would like to point out the possibility to detect the low-energy signals of moduli in the superstring theory in the neutrino oscillation. The idea is based on the characteristics that the couplings of moduli are different in matter. We estimate the oscillation probability both in the long baseline and in the solar neutrino oscillations and examine the detectable region of the moduli effect.

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