No Arabic abstract
We present a deep $K^{prime}$-band (2.12$mu$m) imaging of 1arcmin $times$ 1arcmin Subaru Super Deep Field (SSDF) taken with the Subaru adaptive optics (AO) system. Total integration time of 26.8 hours results in the limiting magnitude of $K^{prime} sim 24.7$ (5$sigma$, 0farcs2 aperture) for point sources and $K^{prime} sim 23.5$ (5$sigma$, 0farcs6 aperture) for galaxies, which is the deepest limit ever achieved in the $K^{prime}$ band. The average stellar FWHM of the co-added image is 0farcs18. Based on the photometric measurements of detected galaxies, we obtained the differential galaxy number counts, for the first time, down to $K^{prime} sim 25$, which is more than 0.5 mag deeper than the previous data. We found that the number count slope $dlog N/dm$ is about 0.15 at $22 < K^{prime} < 25$, which is flatter than the previous data. Therefore, detected galaxies in the SSDF have only negligible contribution to the near-infrared extragalactic background light (EBL), and the discrepancy claimed so far between the diffuse EBL measurements and the estimated EBL from galaxy count integration has become more serious . The size distribution of detected galaxies was obtained down to the area size of less than 0.1 arcsec$^2$, which is less than a half of the previous data in the $K^{prime}$ band. We compared the observed size-magnitude relation with a simple pure luminosity evolution model allowing for intrinsic size evolution, and found that a model with no size evolution gives the best fit to the data. It implies that the surface brightness of galaxies at high redshift is not much different from that expected from the size-luminosity relation of present-day galaxies.
We search for stars with proper motions in a set of twenty deep Subaru images, covering about 0.28 square degrees to a depth of i ~ 25, taken over a span of six years. In this paper, we describe in detail our reduction and techniques to identify moving objects. We present a first sample of 99 stars with motions of high significance, and discuss briefly the populations from which they are likely drawn. Based on photometry and motions alone, we expect that 9 of the candidates may be white dwarfs. We also find a group of stars which may be extremely metal-poor subdwarfs in the halo.
Deep near-infrared images of a blank 2x2 section of sky near the Galactic north pole taken by Subaru Telescope are presented. The total integration times of the J and K bands are 12.1 hours and 9.7 hours, resulting in 5-sigma limiting magnitudes of 25.1 and 23.5 mag, respectively. The numbers of sources within these limiting magnitudes found with an automated detection procedure are 385 in the J band and 350 in K. Based on photometric measurements of these sources, we present number count vs. magnitude relations, color vs. magnitude diagrams, size vs. color relationships, etc. The slope of the galaxy number count plotted against the AB magnitude scale is about 0.23 in the 22 to 26 AB magnitude range of both bands. The spatial number density of galaxies as well as the slopes in the faint-end region given by the Subaru Deep Field (SDF) survey is consistent with those given by HST-NICMOS surveys as expressed on the AB magnitude diagram. Several sources having very large J-K color are found including a few K objects without detection at J. In addition, a number of faint Galactic stars are also detected, most of which are assigned to M-subdwarfs, together with a few brown dwarf candidates.
Many adaptive optics systems operate by measuring the distortion of the wavefront in one wavelength range and performing the scientific observations in a second, different wavelength range. One common technique is to measure wavefront distortions at wavelengths <~1 micron while operating the science instrument at wavelengths >~1 micron. The index of refraction of air decreases sharply from shorter visible wavelengths to near-infrared wavelengths. Therefore, because the adaptive optics system is measuring the wavefront distortion in one wavelength range and the science observations are performed at a different wavelength range, residual image motion occurs and the maximum exposure time before smearing of the image can be significantly limited. We demonstrate the importance of atmospheric differential refraction, present calculations to predict the effect of atmospheric differential refraction, and finally discuss the implications of atmospheric differential refraction for several current and proposed observatories.
We present new on-sky results for the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics imager (SCExAO) verifying and quantifying the contrast gain enabled by key components: the closed-loop coronagraphic low-order wavefront sensor (CLOWFS) and focal plane wavefront control (speckle nulling). SCExAO will soon be coupled with a high-order, Pyramid wavefront sensor which will yield > 90% Strehl ratio and enable 10^6--10^7 contrast at small angular separations allowing us to image gas giant planets at solar system scales. Upcoming instruments like VAMPIRES, FIRST, and CHARIS will expand SCExAOs science capabilities.
We describe the current performance of the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) instrument on the Subaru telescope on Maunakea, Hawaii and present early science results for SCExAO coupled with the CHARIS integral field spectrograph. SCExAO now delivers H band Strehl ratios up to $sim$ 0.9 or better, extreme AO corrections for optically faint stars, and planet-to-star contrasts rivaling that of GPI and SPHERE. CHARIS yield high signal-to-noise detections and 1.1--2.4 $mu m$ spectra of benchmark directly-imaged companions like HR 8799 cde and kappa And b that clarify their atmospheric properties. We also show how recently published as well as unpublished observations of LkCa 15 lead to a re-evaluation of its claimed protoplanets. Finally, we briefly describe plans for a SCExAO-focused direct imaging campaign to directly image and characterize young exoplanets, planet-forming disks, and (later) mature planets in reflected light.