Systematic search for MOLsphere

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23540259
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Astronomy
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: TANABE Toshihiko 東京大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (90179812)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MOTOHARA Kentaro 東京大学, 大学院・理学系研究科, 助教授 (90343102) ; MATSUNAGA Noriyuki 東京大学, 大学院・理学系研究科, 助教 (80580208) ; KONISHI Masahiro 東京大学, 大学院・理学系研究科, 特任助教 (50532545)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2013
• Keywords: 天文学 / 赤外線天文学 / 恒星大気 / 低温度星 / 恒星進化

Research Abstract

Although water molecules are believed to be present only in stars whose surface temperatures are less than 3000 K, they are discovered in rather high-temperature stars. In order to clarify in which stars do water molecules exist, we made a systematic search for water molecules. Observations of water molecules in celestial objects are rather difficult from normal observational sites because of the absorption of water molecules in the Earth's atmosphere. Observation becomes possible at 5640m altitude where we have built a 1m telescope.
We found that for the M giant stars in the Large Magellan Cloud the tendency that the presence of water molecules is increased as the temperature becomes lower but not all low-temperature stars show water molecules. We also found that water molecules are present in one high-temperature star.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Paschen α Observations of Be stars Toward the SMC Cluster NGC330 (2013)
  • Author(s): Tanabe, T., Motohara, K., Tateuchi, K., Matsunaga, N., Ita, Y., Toshikawa, K., Konishi, M., Kato, N., and Yoshii, Y
  • Journal Title: Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan Volume: 65 Pages: 55
  • DOI: 10.1093/pasj/65.3.55
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Paschen α Observations of Be stars toward SMC cluster NGC330 (2011)
  • Author(s): 田辺 俊彦, 本原 顕太郎, (東京大学), 板由房 (東北大学), 松永 典之, 小西 真広, 利川 興司, 大澤 亮, 越田 進太郎, 宮田隆志, 酒向 重行, 中村友彦, 浅野 健太朗, 加藤 夏子, 峰崎 岳夫(東京大学), 米田 瑞生 (東北大学), 半田 利弘 (鹿児島大学), 田中 培生, 川良 公明, 土居 守, 河野 孝太郎, 吉井 讓 (東京大学)
  • Organizer: 日本天文学会 2011 秋季年会
  • Place of Presentation: 鹿児島大学
  • Year and Date: 20110919-22