Bi-Ho Jang

SIMULTANEOUS OBSERVATION OF A HOT EXPLOSION BY NST AND IRIS

We present the first simultaneous observations of so-called “hot explosions” in the cool atmosphere of the Sun made by the New Solar Telescope (NST) of Big Bear Solar Observatory and the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) in space. The data were obtained during the joint IRIS-NST observations on 2014 July 30. The explosion of interest started around 19:20 UT and lasted for about 10 minutes. Our findings are as follows: (1) the IRIS brightening was observed in three channels of slit-jaw images, which cover the temperature range from 4000 to 80,000 K; (2) during the brightening, the Si iv emission profile showed a double-peaked shape with highly blue and redshifted components ( and 80 km s−1); (3) wing brightening occurred in Hα and Ca ii 8542 Å bands and related surges were observed in both bands of the NST Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph (FISS) instrument; (4) the elongated granule, seen in NST TiO data, is clear evidence of the emergence of positive flux to trigger the hot explosion; (5) the brightening in Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly 1600 Å images is quite consistent with the IRIS brightening. These observations suggest that our event is a hot explosion that occurred in the cool atmosphere of the Sun. In addition, our event appeared as an Ellerman bomb (EB) in the wing of Hα, although its intensity is weak and the vertical extent of the brightening seems to be relatively high compared with the typical EBs.

STATUS AND PROGRESS OF ARGO-M SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

KASI (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute) has developed an SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) system since 2008. The name of the development program is ARGO (Accurate Ranging system for Geodetic Observation). ARGO has a wide range of applications in the satellite precise orbit determination and space geodesy research using SLR with mm-level accuracy. ARGO-M (Mobile, bistatic 10 cm transmitting/40 cm receiving telescopes) and ARGO-F (Fixed stationary, about 1 m transmitting/receiving integrated telescope) SLR systems development will be completed by 2014. In 2011, ARGO-M system integration was completed. At present ARGO-M is in the course of system calibration, functionality, and performance tests. It consists of six subsystems, OPS (Optics System), TMS (Tracking Mount System), OES (Opto-Electronic System), CDS (Container-Dome System), LAS (Laser System) and AOS (ARGO Operation System). In this paper, ARGO-M system structure and integration status are introduced and described.

The Design Concept of the First Mobile Satellite Laser Ranging System (ARGO-M) in Korea

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) launched the development project of two satellite laser ranging (SLR) systems in early 2008 after the government fund approval of the SLR systems in 2007. One mobile SLR system and one permanent SLR station will be developed with the completion of the project. The main objectives of these systems will be focused on the Space Geodetic researches. A system requirement review was held in the second half of the same year. Through the following system design review meeting and other design reviews, many unsolved technical and engineering issues would be discussed and resolved. However, the design of the mobile SLR system is a corner stone of whole project. The noticeable characteristics of Korea`s first SLR system are 1) use of light weight main mirror, 2) design of compact optical assembly, 3) use of KHz laser pulse, 4) use of commercial laser generator, 5) remote operation capability, 6) automatic tracking, 7) state of art operation system, etc. In this paper, the major user requirement and pre-defined specification are presented and discussed.

COMPONENT-BASED DEVELOPMENT OF OBSERVATIONAL SOFTWARE FOR KASI SOLAR IMAGING SPECTROGRAPH

In this paper, we have made the component-based development of observational software for KASI solar imaging spectrograph (KSIS) that is able to obtain three-dimensional imaging spectrograms by using a scanning mirror in front of the spectrograph slit. Since 2002, the KASI solar spectrograph has been successfully operated to observe solar spectra for a given slit region as well as to inspect the response functions of narrow band filters. To improve its capability, we have developed the KSIS that can perform sequential observations of solar spectra by simultaneously controlling the scanning mirror and the CCD camera via Visual C++. Main task of this paper is to introduce the development of the component-based software for KSIS. Each component of the software is reusable on the level of executable file instead of source code because the software was developed by using CBD (component-based development) methodology. The main advantage of such a component-based software is that key components such as image processing component and display component can be applied to other similar observational software without any modifications. Using this software, we have successfully obtained solar imaging spectra of an active region (AR 10708) including a small sunspot. Finally, we present solar spectra () that were obtained at an active region and a quiet region in order to confirm the validity of the developed KSIS and its software.

Study on the Optoelectronic Design for Korean Mobile Satellite Laser Ranging System

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute has been developing one mobile and one stationary satellite laser ranging system for the space geodesy research and precise orbit determination since 2008, which are called as ARGO-M and ARGO-F, respectively. They will be capable of daytime laser ranging as well as nighttime and provide the accurate range measurements with millimeter level precision. Laser ranging accuracy is mostly dependent on the optics and optoelectronic system which consists of event timer, optoelectronic controller and photon detectors in the case of ARGO-M. In this study, the optoelectronic system of ARGO-M is addressed and its critical design is also presented. Additionally, the experiment of the integrated optoelectronic system was performed in the laboratory to validate the functional operation of each component and its results are analyzed to investigate ARGO-M performance in advance.

A preliminary design for the GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF)

The GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF) is an optical-band echelle spectrograph that has been selected as the first light instrument for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). G-CLEF is a general-purpose, high dispersion spectrograph that is fiber fed and capable of extremely precise radial velocity measurements. The G-CLEF Concept Design (CoD) was selected in Spring 2013. Since then, G-CLEF has undergone science requirements and instrument requirements reviews and will be the subject of a preliminary design review (PDR) in March 2015. Since CoD review (CoDR), the overall G-CLEF design has evolved significantly as we have optimized the constituent designs of the major subsystems, i.e. the fiber system, the telescope interface, the calibration system and the spectrograph itself. These modifications have been made to enhance G-CLEF’s capability to address frontier science problems, as well as to respond to the evolution of the GMT itself and developments in the technical landscape. G-CLEF has been designed by applying rigorous systems engineering methodology to flow Level 1 Scientific Objectives to Level 2 Observational Requirements and thence to Level 3 and Level 4. The rigorous systems approach applied to G-CLEF establishes a well defined science requirements framework for the engineering design. By adopting this formalism, we may flexibly update and analyze the capability of G-CLEF to respond to new scientific discoveries as we move toward first light. G-CLEF will exploit numerous technological advances and features of the GMT itself to deliver an efficient, high performance instrument, e.g. exploiting the adaptive optics secondary system to increase both throughput and radial velocity measurement precision.

CAPABILITY OF THE FAST IMAGING SOLAR SPECTROGRAPH ON NST/BBSO FOR OBSERVING FILAMENTS/PROMINENCES AT THE SPECTRAL LINES Hα, Ca II 8542, AND Ca II K

Spectral line profiles of filaments/prominences to be observed by the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph (FISS) are studied. The main spectral lines of interests are Hα, Ca II 8542, and Ca II K. FISS has a high spectral resolving power of 2×10 5 , and supports simultaneous dual-band recording. This instrument will be installed at the 1.6m New Solar Telescope (NST) of Big Bear Solar Observatory, which has a high spatial resolution of 0.065˝ at 500nm. Adopting the cloud model of radiative transfer and using the model parameters inferred from pre-existing observations, we have simulated a set of spectral profiles of the lines that are emitted by a filament on the disk or a prominence at the limb. Taking into account the parameters of the instrument, we have estimated the photon count to be recorded by the CCD cameras, the signal-to-noise ratios, and so on. We have also found that FISS is suitable for the study of multi-velocity threads in filaments if the spectral profiles of Ca II lines are recorded together with Ha lines.

Performance Analysis of the First Korean Satellite Laser Ranging System

The first Korean satellite laser ranging (SLR) system, Daedeok SLR station (DAEK station) was developed by Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) in 2012, whose main objectives are space geodesy researches. In consequence, Korea became the country that operates SLR system supplementing the international laser tracking network. The DAEK station is designed to be capable of 2 kHz laser ranging with precision of a few mm both in daytime and nighttime observation of satellites with laser retro-reflector array (LRA) up to the altitude of 25,000 km. In this study, characteristics and specifications of DAEK station are investigated and its data quality is evaluated and compared with International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) stations in terms of single-shot ranging precision. The analysis results demonstrated that the DAEK station shows good ranging performance to a few mm precision. Currently, the DAEK station is under normal operations at KASI headquarters, however, it will be moved to Sejong city in 2014 to function as a fundamental station for space geodesy researches in combination with other space geodesy systems (GNSS, VLBI, DORIS, etc.).

Development of Optical System for ARGO-M

ARGO-M is a satellite laser ranging (SLR) system developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute with the consideration of mobility and daytime and nighttime satellite observation. The ARGO-M optical system consists of 40 cm receiving telescope, 10 cm transmitting telescope, and detecting optics. For the development of ARGO-M optical system, the structural analysis was performed with regard to the optics and optomechanics design and the optical components. To ensure the optical performance, the quality was tested at the level of parts using the laser interferometer and ultra-high-precision measuring instruments. The assembly and alignment of ARGO-M optical system were conducted at an auto-collimation facility. As the transmission and reception are separated in the ARGO-M optical system, the pointing alignment between the transmitting telescope and receiving telescope is critical for precise target pointing. Thus, the alignment using the ground target and the radiant point observation of transmitting laser beam was carried out, and the lines of sight for the two telescopes were aligned within the required pointing precision. This paper describes the design, structural analysis, manufacture and assembly of parts, and entire process related with the alignment for the ARGO-M optical system.

DEVELOPMENT OF DATA INTEGRATION SYSTEM FOR GROUND-BASED SPACE WEATHER OBSERVATIONAL FACILITIES

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon 305-348, KoreaE-mail: jhbaek@kasi.re.kr(Received September 06, 2013; Accepted September 27, 2013)ABSTRACT We have developed a data integration system for ground-based space weather facilities in Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). The data integration system is necessary to analyze and use ground-based space weather data efficiently, and consists of a server system and data monitoring systems. The server system consists of servers such as data acquisition server or web server, and storage. The data monitoring systems include data collecting and processing applications and data display monitors. With the data integration system we operate the Space Weather Monitoring Lab (SWML) where real-time space weather data are displayed and our ground-based observing facilities are monitored. We expect that this data integration system will be used for the highly efficient processing and analysis of the current and future space weather data at KASI.Key words: space weather; data integration system; ground-based observational system: solar telescope, magnetometer, VHF radar