Showing papers by "Chung Sik Oh published in 2008"

Astrometry of H2O Masers in Nearby Star-Forming Regions with VERA II SVS 13 in NGC 1333

Abstract: We report on the results of multiepoch very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations with VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry) of the 22 GHz H2O masers associated with the young stellar object SVS 13 in the NGC 1333 region. We carried out phase-referencing VLBI astrometry, and measured the annual parallax of the maser features in SVS 13 of 4.25 ˙ 0.32 mas, corresponding to a distance of 235 ˙ 18 pc from the Sun. Our result is consistent with a photometric distance of 220 pc, previously reported. Even though the maser features were detectable only for 6 months, the present result provides the distance to NGC 1333 with much higher accuracy than photometric methods. The absolute positions and proper motions have been derived, revealing that the H2O masers with LSR (local standard of rest) velocities of 7–8 km s � 1 are most likely associated with VLA 4A, which is a radio counterpart of SVS 13. It is currently difficult to attribute the observed proper motions of the maser features to either the jet or the rotating circumstellar disk associated with VLA 4A, which should be investigated through future high-resolution astrometric observations of VLA 4A and other radio sources in NGC 1333.

SiO Maser Observations toward Orion-KL with VERA

Abstract: We present results of phase-referencing VLBI observations of SiO masers in the Orion-KL region made with VERA. Using a strong maser spot in the 43 GHz v = 2 J = 1–0 emission, we derived the trigonometric parallax of Orion-KL to be 2.39˙0.03mas, corresponding to a distance of 418˙6pc, with the highest accuracy among existing parallax measurements of the source. We made a superimposed image of v = 1 J = 1–0 and v = 2 J = 1–0 maser features in Orion-KL based on absolute positions obtained from the phase-referencing astrometry with a common reference source. The maser features of both transitions show similar X-shaped distributions centered at Source I. However, in each of the four arms of the X-shape, the SiO v = 2 features tend to lie closer to Source I than the SiO v = 1 features. The radial velocities of the maser emission decrease with the distance from Source I. The spatial and radial velocity distributions of the SiO masers suggest that the SiO masers lie in the rotating materials associated with a disk around Source I, rather than a decelerating outflow.

Astrometry of H2O Masers in Nearby Star-Forming Regions with VERA III. IRAS22198+6336 in Lynds1204G

Abstract: We present results of multi-epoch VLBI observations with VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry) of the 22 GHz H2O masers associated with a young stellar object (YSO) IRAS 22198+6336 in a dark cloud, L 1204 G. Based on phase-referencing VLBI astrometry, we derived an annual parallax of IRAS 22198+6336 to be 1.309˙ 0.047 mas, corresponding to the distance of 764˙ 27 pc from the Sun. Although the most principal error source of our astrometry is attributed to the internal structure of the maser spots, we successfully reduced the errors in the derived annual parallax by employing position measurements for all of the 26 detected maser spots. Based on this result, we reanalyzed the spectral energy distribution of IRAS 22198+6336 and found that the bolometric lumi— —

Distance to VY Canis Majoris with VERA

Abstract: We report astrometric observations of H2O masers around the red supergiant VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa) carried out with VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA). Based on astrometric monitoring for 13 months, we successfully measured a trigonometric parallax of 0.88 ± 0.08 mas, corresponding to a distance of 1.14 +0.11 −0.09 kpc. This is the most accurate distance to VY CMa and the first one based on an annual parallax measurement. The luminosity of VY CMa has been overestimated due to a previously accepted distance. With our result, we re-estimate the luminosity of VY CMa to be (3 ± 0.5) × 10 5 L⊙ using the bolometric flux integrated over optical and IR wavelengths. This improved luminosity value makes location of VY CMa on the Hertzsprung-Russel (HR) diagram much closer to the theoretically allowable zone (i.e. the left side of the Hayashi track) than previous ones, though uncertainty in the effective temperature of the stellar surface still does not permit us to make a final conclusion.

Astrometry of H$_{2}$O Masers in Nearby Star-Forming Regions with VERA. III. IRAS 22198+6336 in L1204G

Abstract: We present results of multi-epoch VLBI observations with VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry) of the 22 GHz H$_{2}$O masers associated with a young stellar object (YSO) IRAS 22198+6336 in a dark cloud L1204G. Based on the phase-referencing VLBI astrometry, we derive an annual parallax of IRAS 22198+6336 to be 1.309$\pm$0.047 mas, corresponding to the distance of 764$\pm$27 pc from the Sun. Although the most principal error source of our astrometry is attributed to the internal structure of the maser spots, we successfully reduce the errors in the derived annual parallax by employing the position measurements for all of the 26 detected maser spots. Based on this result, we reanalyze the spectral energy distribution (SED) of IRAS 22198+6336 and find that the bolometric luminosity and total mass of IRAS 22198+6336 are 450$L_{\odot}$ and 7$M_{\odot}$, respectively. These values are consistent with an intermediate-mass YSO deeply embedded in the dense dust core, which has been proposed to be an intermediate-mass counterpart of a low-mass Class 0 source. In addition, we obtain absolute proper motions of the H$_{2}$O masers for the most blue-shifted components. We propose that the collimated jets aligned along the east-west direction are the most plausible explanation for the origin of the detected maser features.

Distance to VY Canis Majoris with VERA

Abstract: We report astrometric observations of H2O masers around the red supergiant VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa) carried out with VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA). Based on astrometric monitoring for 13 months, we successfully measured a trigonometric parallax of 0.88 +/- 0.08 mas, corresponding to a distance of 1.14 +0.11/-0.09 kpc. This is the most accurate distance to VY CMa and the first one based on an annual parallax measurement. The luminosity of VY CMa has been overestimated due to a previously accepted distance. With our result, we re-estimate the luminosity of VY CMa to be (3 +/- 0.5) x 10^5 L_sun using the bolometric flux integrated over optical and IR wavelengths. This improved luminosity value makes location of VY CMa on the Hertzsprung-Russel (HR) diagram much closer to the theoretically allowable zone (i.e. the left side of the Hayashi track) than previous ones, though uncertainty in the effective temperature of the stellar surface still does not permit us to make a final conclusion.

Distance to NGC 281 in a Galactic Fragmenting Superbubble: Parallax Measurements with VERA

Abstract: We have used the Japanese VLBI array VERA to perform high-precision astrometry of an H2O maser source in the Galactic star-forming region NGC 281 West, which has been considered to be part of a 300-pc superbubble. We successfully detected a trigonometric parallax of 0.355 ˙ 0.030 mas, corresponding to a source distance of 2.82 ˙ 0.24 kpc. Our direct distance determination of NGC 281 has resolved a large distance discrepancy between previous photometric and kinematic studies; likely NGC 281 is in the far side of the Perseus spiral arm. The source distance as well as the absolute proper motions were used to demonstrate the 3D structure and expansion of the NGC 281 superbubble, � 650 pc in size parallel to the Galactic disk and with a shape slightly elongated along the disk or spherical, but not vertically elongated, indicating that the superbubble expansion may be confined to the disk. We estimate the expansion velocity of the superbubble as being � 20 km s � 1 , both perpendicular to and parallel to the Galactic disk with a consistent timescale of � 20 Myr.

VLBI Astrometry of AGB Variables with VERA — A Semiregular Variable S Crateris—

Abstract: We present a distance measurement for the semiregular variable S Crateris (S Crt) based on its annual parallax. With the unique dual beam system of the VLBI Exploration for Radio Astrometry (VERA) telescopes, we measured the absolute proper motion of a water maser spot associated with S Crt, referred to the quasar J1147� 0724 located . .. . .. . .. . ..

Variable Asymmetry of the Circumstellar Envelope in IK Tauri Traced by SiO Maser Emission

Abstract: We observed the SiO (v = 1 and v = 2, J = 1–0) maser emissions toward the Mira variable IK Tauri (IK Tau, NML Tau, IRC +10050) over nine epochs from 2003 November to 2005 April using the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) telescope array. We found that the SiO maser distributions around IK Tau are highly variable, depending on the stellar pulsation phase. The velocity structures were complex and also time-variable, and are inconsistent with a simply rotating shell that was suggested by previous observations. Based on fittings of the SiO maser distributions to elliptical ring models, we found that the ring size seems to vary in correlation with the pulsation phase, as previously found for TX Cam. Comparisons of the v = 1 and v = 2 maser distributions reveal that 42–50% of the maser pairs have a positional offset less than 0.5 mas, suggesting that the maser pumping in these spots is likely to be dominated by line overlapping or collisional pumping, rather than pure radiative pumping. In order to model the velocity structure of the spoke-like features observed in IK Tau, we propose a ballistic-orbit model, in which a gas clump ejected from the stellar surface moves radially outward with a gravitational deceleration, and argue that the stellar mass can be deduced from that model.

A Bipolar Outflow of the M-Type Giant IRC −10414 Traced by HO Maser Emission

Abstract: We report on results of five-epoch VLBI observations of H2O maser emission in the M-type star IRC � 10414, carried out with the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA). The maser distribution extends over an area of 70 mas � 260 mas and exhibits a bipolar structure. The relative proper motions of 17 maser features were measured during the monitoring observations spanning nine months. The distance to IRC � 10414 was re-estimated on the basis of the statistical treatment of parallax and the model-fitting method, yielding D = 3.1 ˙ 0.4 kpc and D = 2.0 ˙ 0.2 kpc, respectively. The estimated distance, D = 2–3 kpc, is much larger than that previously adopted. The stellar luminosity of IRC � 10414 is also re-estimated to be L� � 9 � 10 4 (D=2 kpc) 2 Lˇ, much brighter by a factor of 10–20 than previously adopted (L� � 10000 Lˇ). The maser motions exhibit not only a spherically expanding flow with a velocity of � 10 (D=2 kpc) km s � 1 , but also a faster bipolar outflow with a major axis in the north–south direction and at a small inclination angle with respect to the celestial sphere. These characteristics of the star and the

VERA Observations of SiO Masers in the Symbiotic Star R Aquarii

Abstract: We present phase-referenced maps of the SiO maser transitions v = 1 J = 1–0 and v = 2 J = 1–0 from the symbiotic stellar system R Aquarii, which hosts an evolved AGB star plus a hot companion. Observations were performed at two epochs: 2004.98 and 2005.98. Accurate absolute coordinates and proper motions of the emission centroid were obtained; the errors expected for these parameters are also given. We compare the VERA data with the previous astrometry by Hipparcos. This represents a possibility to improve the orbital parameters of the system in a different way than that done before. Thanks to our accurate astrometry, we have also estimated the percentage of spot coincidences between both maser transitions, a parameter that has been proposed to be relevant to discriminate between different maser pumping schemes. Although the overall distributions of both lines are always similar, the spots are rarely coincident, in a percentage ranging between 3% and 20% of the cases. The lack of systematic coincidence favors, in principle, radiative pumping. However, we argue that no firm conclusion can be reached due to a lack of models that include an overlap of rovibrational lines, and that accurately address the coincidence of very intense spots of different maser transitions.

Distance to NGC 281 in a Galactic Fragmenting Superbubble: Parallax Measurements with VERA

Abstract: We have used the Japanese VLBI array VERA to perform high-precision astrometry of an H2O maser source in the Galactic star-forming region NGC 281 West, which has been considered to be part of a 300-pc superbubble. We successfully detected a trigonometric parallax of 0.355+/-0.030 mas, corresponding to a source distance of 2.82+/-0.24 kpc. Our direct distance determination of NGC 281 has resolved the large distance discrepancy between previous photometric and kinematic studies; likely NGC 281 is in the far side of the Perseus spiral arm. The source distance as well as the absolute proper motions were used to demonstrate the 3D structure and expansion of the NGC 281 superbubble, ~650 pc in size parallel to the Galactic disk and with a shape slightly elongated along the disk or spherical, but not vertically elongated, indicating the superbubble expansion may be confined to the disk. We estimate the expansion velocity of the superbubble as ~20 km/s both perpendicular to and parallel to the Galactic disk with a consistent timescale of ~20 Myr.

VLBI Astrometry of AGB Variables with VERA -- A Semiregular Variable S Crateris --

Abstract: We present a distance measurement for the semiregular variable S Crateris (S Crt) based on its annual parallax. With the unique dual beam system of the VLBI Exploration for Radio Astrometry (VERA) telescopes, we measured the absolute proper motion of a water maser spot associated with S Crt, referred to the quasar J1147-0724 located at an angular separation of 1.23$^{\circ}$. In observations spanning nearly two years, we have detected the maser spot at the LSR velocity of 34.7 km s$^{-1}$, for which we measured the annual parallax of 2.33$\pm$0.13 mas corresponding to a distance of 430$^{+25}_{-23}$ pc. This measurement has an accuracy one order of magnitude better than the parallax measurements of HIPPARCOS. The angular distribution and three-dimensional velocity field of maser spots indicate a bipolar outflow with the flow axis along northeast-southwest direction. Using the distance and photospheric temperature, we estimate the stellar radius of S Crt and compare it with those of Mira variables.

SiO Maser Observations toward Orion-KL with VERA

Abstract: We present results of phase-referencing VLBI observations of SiO masers in the Orion-KL region made with VERA. Using a strong maser spot in the 43 GHz v = 2 J = 1–0 emission, we derived the trigonometric parallax of Orion-KL to be 2.39˙0.03mas, corresponding to a distance of 418˙6pc, with the highest accuracy among existing parallax measurements of the source. We made a superimposed image of v = 1 J = 1–0 and v = 2 J = 1–0 maser features in Orion-KL based on absolute positions obtained from the phase-referencing astrometry with a common reference source. The maser features of both transitions show similar X-shaped distributions centered at Source I. However, in each of the four arms of the X-shape, the SiO v = 2 features tend to lie closer to Source I than the SiO v = 1 features. The radial velocities of the maser emission decrease with the distance from Source I. The spatial and radial velocity distributions of the SiO masers suggest that the SiO masers lie in the rotating materials associated with a disk around Source I, rather than a decelerating outflow.