Yukiyasu Kobayashi

Infrared camera PICNIC and prism-spectropolarimeter

We constructed a near IR camera PICNIC equipped with the 2D array detector NICMOS-3 manufactured by Rockwell. Employing a four aspherical metal mirror system for reimaging optics, PICNIC is an IR imager distinguished with high throughput and small chromatic aberration. In addition to normal imaging mode, the camera has a prism spectroscopy mode and a polarimetry mode. A direct view prism, which can be optionally inserted in front of the camera, make it possible to obtain multiobject low resolution spectroscopy in the wavelength range from 1 to 2.5 micrometers at resolving power of approximately 50. Linear polarization can be measured with combination of the filters and/or the prism. We realized user-friendly operating environment as well as automated observation.

JASMINE – design and method of data reduction

Japan Astrometry Satellite Mission for Infrared Exploration (JASMINE) aims to construct a map of the Galactic bulge with 10 μ arc sec accuracy. We use z-band CCD for avoiding dust absorption, and observe about 10 × 20 degrees area around the Galactic bulge region. Because the stellar density is very high, each FOVs can be combined with high accuracy. With 5 years observation, we will construct 10 μ arc sec accurate map. In this poster, I will show the observation strategy, design of JASMINE hardware, reduction scheme, and error budget. We also construct simulation software named JASMINE Simulator. We also show the simulation results and design of software.

K Band Galaxy Counts in the South Galactic Pole Region

We carried out a K′ band survey during August and September, 1994, in the south galactic pole region that covers 180.8 arcmin 2 to K = 19 and 2.21 arcmin 2 to K = 21 by the ANU 2.3 m telescope at SSO, Australia, equipped with PICNIC, developed at NAOJ. New galaxy number counts from K = 13 to 22 were obtained, which provided the best determination of the galaxy counts from K = 17.5 to 19.0 because of our large survey area. They were very consistent with Gardner, Cowie, & Wainscoat (1993, ApJL, 415, 9) and other observations to K