RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Embedded Files
In order to reveal the material cycle in the Universe and understand formation process of stars and planets, we conduct mid-infrared astronomical observation of small solid particles (dust).
Reveal history from dying star to planet formation with a clue of Dust grains
Reveal history from dying star to planet formation with a clue of Dust grains
Dust is widely distributed in the Universe. It is formed by heavy elements in gas ejected from dying stars such as AGB stars, planetary nebulae, and supernovae. The formed dust is exposed in hostile environment and transformed in interstellar space, and eventually trapped in star forming region and becomes building material of a star and planets. Therefore dust records rich information about material cycling process in the Universe and formation process of planetary disks and planets. We conduct observational study of dust to reveals "history of material" from dying stars to planet formation.
New approach : Mid infrared Time Domain Observation
New approach : Mid infrared Time Domain Observation
[Mid-infrared Astronomical Observation]
Mid-infrared (or thermal infrared) is light with wavelength from 3-40 micron. It traces a region with temperature of 100-1000K and is rich in spectral features of solid materials. It is very useful for studying circumstellar environments such as mass loss phenomena and proto planetary disks. However, astronomical observations in mid-infrared wavelength are not easy, because sky is very bright in mid-infrared.
The University of Tokyo is now building an infrared observatory called TAO (The University of Tokyo). It is a project to build to build a 6.5m telescope at the world highest place (5.640m). Thanks to the high altitude, the sky is very transparent in mid-infrared wavelength at the TAO site. Our team has developed a mid-infrared instrument MIMIZUKU which has capabilities of imaging and spectroscopy from 2-38 micron as the 1st generation instrument of the TAO telescope.
--> Details of our instrumentation
[Time domain astronomy in mid-infrared]
Time domain observation is one of the hottest and most active region in observational astronomy. It provides useful and unique information about astronomical object which cannot be obtained by normal snap-shot observations. So far, monitoring observations have been carried out mainly in optical and near-infrared wavelengths.There are not so may examples of time domain observations in mid-infrared wavelengths, especially wavelengths longer than 10 micron, because the sky is unclear and unstable in those wavelengths.
In order to overcome this situation, we have developed a new opto-mechanical system called Field Stacker to MIMIZUKU. This system enables us to precise monitoring observations in mid-infrared. Flexible and relatively sufficient observing time of TAO is also very helpful for the monitoring observations. TAO/MIMIZUKU is the world best facility to carry out mid-infrared monitoring observations. We will blase a trail of new "mid-infrared time domain astronomy" with TAO/MIMIZUKU.
Page updated
Report abuse