Daisuke Baba

A Distinct Structure inside the Galactic Bar

We present the result of a near-infrared (JHKs) survey along the Galactic plane, -105 ≤ l ≤ 105 and b = +1°, with the IRSF 1.4 m telescope and the SIRIUS camera. Ks versus H - Ks color-magnitude diagrams reveal a well-defined population of red clump stars whose apparent magnitude peak changes continuously along the Galactic plane, from Ks = 13.4 at l = -10° to Ks = 12.2 at l = 10° after dereddening. This variation can be explained by the barlike structure found in previous studies, but we find an additional inner structure at l 4°, where the longitude-apparent magnitude relation is distinct from the outer bar and where the apparent magnitude peak changes by only ≈0.1 mag over the central 8°. The exact nature of this inner structure is as yet uncertain.

A novel Dehalobacter species is involved in extensive 4,5,6,7-tetrachlorophthalide dechlorination.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was the enrichment and phylogenetic identification of bacteria that dechlorinate 4,5,6,7-tetrachlorophthalide (commercially designated “fthalide”), an effective fungicide for rice blast disease. Sequential transfer culture of a paddy soil with lactate and fthalide produced a soil-free enrichment culture (designated the “KFL culture”) that dechlorinated fthalide by using hydrogen, which is produced from lactate. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA genes revealed the dominance of two novel phylotypes of the genus Dehalobacter (FTH1 and FTH2) in the KFL culture. FTH1 and FTH2 disappeared during culture transfer in medium without fthalide and increased in abundance with the dechlorination of fthalide, indicating their growth dependence on the dechlorination of fthalide. Dehalobacter restrictus TEA is their closest relative, with 97.5% and 97.3% 16S rRNA gene similarities to FTH1 and FTH2, respectively.

The period–luminosity relation for type II Cepheids in globular clusters

We report the result of our near-infrared observations (JHK s ) for type II Cepheids (including possible RV Tau stars) in galactic globular clusters. We detected variations of 46 variables in 26 clusters (10 new discoveries in seven clusters) and present their light curves. Their periods range from 1.2 d to over 80 d. They show a well-defined period-luminosity relation at each wavelength. Two type II Cepheids in NGC 6441 also obey the relation if we assume the horizontal branch stars in NGC 6441 are as bright as those in metal-poor globular clusters in spite of the high metallicity of the cluster. This result supports the high luminosity which has been suggested for the RR Lyr variables in this cluster. The period-luminosity relation can be reproduced using the pulsation equation (P√ρ = Q) assuming that all the stars have the same mass. Cluster RR Lyr variables were found to lie on an extrapolation of the period-luminosity relation. These results provide important constraints on the parameters of the variable stars. Using Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) data, we show that the type II Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) fit our period-luminosity relation within the expected scatter at the shorter periods. However, at long periods (P > 40 d, i.e. in the RV Tau star range) the LMC field variables are brighter by about one magnitude than those of similar periods in galactic globular clusters. The long-period cluster stars also differ from both these LMC stars and galactic field RV Tau stars in a colour-colour diagram. The reasons for these differences are discussed.

NEAR-INFRARED IMAGING OBSERVATIONS OF THE N159/N160 COMPLEX IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD: LARGE CLUSTERS OF HERBIG Ae/Be STARS AND SEQUENTIAL CLUSTER FORMATION

We have carried out deep near-infrared imaging observations of the N159/N160 star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We observed an area of ~380 arcmin2 (~80,000 pc2 at the distance of the LMC) in the J, H, and Ks bands. The observations are deep enough to detect Herbig Ae/Be stars down to ~3 M⊙ in the LMC. We discovered a total of 338 and 464 candidate Herbig Ae/Be and OB stars, respectively, based on the near-infrared colors and magnitudes. The Herbig Ae/Be candidates comprise 10 clusters, the OB star candidates 13. We discovered an embedded Herbig Ae/Be cluster in the N159 East giant molecular cloud (GMC) and a Herbig Ae/Be cluster at the northeast tip of the N159 South GMC. Together with two neighboring H II regions, the Herbig Ae/Be cluster at the tip of the N159S GMC provides a hint of the beginning of sequential cluster formation in N159S. The spatial distributions of the Herbig Ae/Be and OB clusters, in conjunction with previously known optical clusters and embedded massive stars, indicate (1) sequential cluster formation within each of the N159 and N160 star-forming regions and (2) large-scale sequential cluster formation over the entire observed region from N160 to N159S. Possible triggers for the large-scale cluster formation are the supergiant shell SGS 19 and an expanding superbubble. Some of the Herbig Ae/Be clusters in the N159/N160 complex are significantly larger in spatial extent than pre–main-sequence clusters of similar age in the Milky Way. Highly turbulent gas motion in the LMC is probably responsible for forming the large young clusters.

Near-Infrared Study of the Carina Nebula

We have carried out near-infrared (NIR) imaging observations of the Carina Nebula for an area of ~400 arcmin2 including the clusters Trumpler 14 and Trumpler 16, with 10 σ limits of J ~ 18.5, H ~ 17.5, and Ks ~ 16.5 mag. A total of 544 Class II candidates, 11 Class I candidates, and 40 red (H - Ks > 2) sources have been found. The majority of the Class II candidates are found to be distributed toward the clusters, whereas most of the red NIR sources are concentrated to the southeast of Trumpler 16, along the V-shaped dust lane. We found indications of ongoing star formation near the three MSX sources, G287.51-0.49, G287.47-0.54, and G287.63-0.72, where red NIR sources and X-ray sources are seen. In particular, two hard X-ray sources are identified near G287.47-0.54, one of which does not have an NIR counterpart and may be associated with a Class I/Class 0 object. The color-magnitude diagrams of the clusters suggest very young stellar population (<3 Myr). The Ks-band luminosity function (KLF) of Trumpler 14 shows a sharp peak at the faint end, likely due to the onset of deuterium burning. The KLF of Trumpler 16, in contrast, rises smoothly until it turns over. The slopes of the mass functions derived for the clusters are in agreement with the canonical Salpeter value for the field stars.

Deep Near-Infrared Imaging toward the Vela Molecular Ridge C. I. A Remarkable Embedded Cluster in RCW 36

We present deep near-infrared (J, H, and Ks) images toward an embedded cluster that lies in a C18O clump in cloud C of the Vela Molecular Ridge. This cluster has at least ~350 members and a radius of ~0.5 pc. The stellar surface number density is approximately 3000 stars pc-2 in the central 0.1 × 0.1 pc region of the cluster. This is much higher than most of the young clusters within 1 kpc of the Sun. From a comparison of the luminosity function and near-infrared excess fraction with those of other embedded clusters, we estimate that the age of this cluster is approximately 2-3 Myr. This cluster exhibits an excess of brighter stars in its central region, from which we conclude that the more massive stars are located near the cluster center.

Herbig Ae/Be Stars in the Magellanic Bridge

We have found Herbig Ae/Be star candidates in the western region of the Magellanic Bridge. Using the near-infrared camera SIRIUS and the 1.4 m telescope IRSF, we surveyed ~3.0° × 1.3° (24° α 36°, -75.0° δ -73.7°) in the J, H, and Ks bands. On the basis of colors and magnitudes, about 200 Herbig Ae/Be star candidates are selected. Considering the contaminations by miscellaneous sources, such as foreground stars and early-type dwarfs in the Magellanic Bridge, we estimate that about 80 (≈40%) of the candidates are likely to be Herbig Ae/Be stars. We also found one concentration of the candidates at the young star cluster NGC 796, strongly suggesting the existence of pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars in the Magellanic Bridge. This is the first detection of PMS star candidates in the Magellanic Bridge, and if they are genuine PMS stars, this could be direct evidence of recent star formation. However, the estimate of the number of Herbig Ae/Be stars depends on the fraction of classical Be stars, and thus a more precise determination of the Be star fraction or observations to differentiate between the Herbig Ae/Be stars and classical Be stars are required.

Near-Infrared Extinction Law in the ρ Ophiuchi and Chamaeleon Dark Clouds

We determine and compare the color excess ratios EJ-H/E for the ρ Ophiuchi and Chamaeleon dark clouds with the J-, H-, and Ks-band simultaneous camera, SIRIUS, on the IRSF 1.4 m telescope at SAAO. Determining accurate ratios is indispensable for discussions of the extinction law. However, previous surveys suffered from uncertainties in transforming one photometric system to another when comparing data on different systems. To overcome the problem, we observe both clouds in exactly the same photometric system on the same telescope, greatly simplifying the comparison of the extinction laws between two clouds. From our surveys covering about 1.56 deg2 (ρ Oph) and 2.77 deg2 (Chamaeleon), which are complete for J ~ 19.0, H ~ 18.3, and KS ~ 17.0 mag at a 10 σ limiting magnitude, we did not find a significant difference in the extinction law EJ-H/E for the two clouds, in contrast to previous work. From calculations of a model star with the effects of filter and atmosphere transmissions, the differences of the color excess ratios EJ-H/EH-K for two clouds described in the past literature can be attributed to the different photometric systems so far employed. We also note a change of the color excess ratio that occurs with increasing optical depth.

Near-Infrared Observations of N11 in the Large Magellanic Cloud: Triggered Star Formation around the Periphery of LH 9

Near-infrared observations have been carried out to survey young stellar objects in the second-largest H II region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, N11. A total area of about 700 arcmin2 is covered in the J, H, and KS bands. We selected a total of 559 OB and 127 Herbig Ae/Be star candidates out of the detected sources based on their near-infrared colors and magnitudes. The existence of these young stellar objects indicates that star formation activity is underway in the whole N11 region. Many Herbig Ae/Be star candidates are distributed around the periphery of the OB association LH 9. Spatial correlations of the OB and Herbig Ae/Be star candidates with the objects observed at other wavelengths (optical, radio continuum, Hα, CO, and X-ray) suggest that the birth of the young stellar populations in peripheral molecular clouds was triggered originally by LH 9. It is likely that the trigger for this star formation was an expanding supershell blown by the OB association. In N11 a new generation of stars would have been formed in the clouds developed from swept-up interstellar medium.

Near-Infrared Photometric Monitoring of the Pre-Main-Sequence Object KH 15D

Extensive photometric monitoring of KH 15D, an enigmatic variable in the young star cluster NGC 2264, has been conducted. Simultaneous and accurate near-infrared photometry (JHKs bands) between 2003 December and 2005 March is presented, covering most of the variable phase. The infrared variability is characterized by a large-amplitude and long-lasting eclipse, as observed in the optical. The period of variability is 48.3 ± 0.2 days, the maximum photometric amplitude of variability is ~4.2 mag, and the eclipse duration is ~0.5 in phase units. These are consistent with the most recent period, amplitude, and duration in the optical. The blueing of the J-H color (~0.16 mag) during eclipse, which has been suggested before, is unambiguously confirmed; a similar blueing at H-Ks is less clear but is probably present at a similar level. The overall shape of the JHKs light curves is very similar to the optical one, including a fair time symmetry and less stable flux during eclipse, with a slight hump near zero phase. Most of these variability features of KH 15D observed at near-infrared wavelengths can be explained with the recent model that employs an eclipse by an inclined, precessing disk and an outer scattering region around a pre-main-sequence binary.