Search

In this study, 36 cores (30 starless and 6 protostellar) identified in Orion were surveyed to search for inward motions. We used the Nobeyama 45 m radio telescope, and mapped the cores in the $J = 1\rightarrow0$ transitions of HCO$^+$, H$^{13}$CO$^+$, N$_2$H$^+$, HNC, and HN$^{13}$C. The asymmetry parameter $\delta V$, which was the ratio of the difference between the HCO$^+$ and H$^{13}$CO$^+$ peak velocities to the H$^{13}$CO$^+$ line width, was biased toward negative values, suggesting that inward motions were more dominant than outward motions. Three starless cores (10% of all starless cores surveyed) were identified as cores with blue-skewed line profiles (asymmetric profiles with more intense blue-shifted emission), and another two starless cores (7%) were identified as candidate blue-skewed line profiles. The peak velocity difference between HCO$^+$ and H$^{13}$CO$^+$ of them was up to 0.9 km s$^{-1}$, suggesting that some inward motions exceeded the speed of sound for the quiescent gas ($\sim10-17$ K). The mean of $\delta V$ of the five aforementioned starless cores was derived to be $-$0.5$\pm$0.3. One core, G211.16$-$19.33North3, observed using the ALMA ACA in DCO$^+$ $J = 3\rightarrow2$ exhibited blue-skewed features. Velocity offset in the blue-skewed line profile with a dip in the DCO$^+$ $J = 3\rightarrow2$ line was larger ($\sim 0.5$ km s$^{-1}$) than that in HCO$^+$ $J = 1\rightarrow0$ ($\sim 0.2$ km s$^{-1}$), which may represent gravitational acceleration of inward motions. It seems that this core is at the last stage in the starless phase, judging from the chemical evolution factor version 2.0 (CEF2.0)., Comment: 45 pages, 28 figures, ApJ in press

We present the results of on-the-fly mapping observations of 44 fields containing 107 SCUBA-2 cores in the emission lines of molecules, N$_2$H$^+$, HC$_3$N, and CCS at 82$-$94 GHz using the Nobeyama 45-m telescope. This study aimed at investigating the physical properties of cores that show high deuterium fractions and might be close to the onset of star formation. We found that the distributions of the N$_2$H$^+$ and HC$_3$N line emissions are approximately similar to that of 850-$\mu$m dust continuum emission, whereas the CCS line emission is often undetected or is distributed in a clumpy structure surrounding the peak position of the 850-$\mu$m dust continuum emission. Occasionally (12%), we observe the CCS emission which is an early-type gas tracer toward the young stellar object, probably due to local high excitation. Evolution toward star formation does not immediately affect nonthermal velocity dispersion., Comment: 45 pages, 15 figures, ApJS, in press

Detailed magnetic field structure of the dense core SL42 (CrA-E) in the Corona Australis molecular cloud complex was investigated based on near-infrared polarimetric observations of background stars to measure dichroically polarized light produced by magnetically aligned dust grains. The magnetic fields in and around SL42 were mapped using 206 stars and curved magnetic fields were identified. On the basis of simple hourglass (parabolic) magnetic field modeling, the magnetic axis of the core on the plane of sky was estimated to be $40^{\circ} \pm 3^{\circ}$. The plane-of-sky magnetic field strength of SL42 was found to be $22.4 \pm 13.9$ $\mu$G. Taking into account the effects of thermal/turbulent pressure and the plane-of-sky magnetic field component, the critical mass of SL42 was obtained to be $M_{\rm cr} = 21.2 \pm 6.6$ M$_{\odot}$, which is close to the observed core mass of $M_{\rm core} \approx 20$ M$_{\odot}$. We thus conclude that SL42 is in a condition close to the critical state if the magnetic fields lie near the plane of the sky. Since there is a very low luminosity object (VeLLO) toward the center of SL42, it is unlikely this core is in a highly subcritical condition (i.e., magnetic inclination angle significantly deviated from the plane of sky). The core probably started to collapse from a nearly kinematically critical state. In addition to the hourglass magnetic field modeling, the Inoue \& Fukui (2013) mechanism may explain the origin of the curved magnetic fields in the SL42 region., Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1912.10029

We present the results of a single-pointing survey of 207 dense cores embedded in Planck Galactic Cold Clumps distributed in five different environments ($\lambda$ Orionis, Orion A, B, Galactic plane, and high latitudes) to identify dense cores on the verge of star formation for the study of the initial conditions of star formation. We observed these cores in eight molecular lines at 76-94 GHz using the Nobeyama 45-m telescope. We find that early-type molecules (e.g., CCS) have low detection rates and that late-type molecules (e.g., N$_2$H$^+$, c-C$_3$H$_2$) and deuterated molecules (e.g., N$_2$D$^+$, DNC) have high detection rates, suggesting that most of the cores are chemically evolved. The deuterium fraction (D/H) is found to decrease with increasing distance, indicating that it suffers from differential beam dilution between the D/H pair of lines for distant cores ($>$1 kpc). For $\lambda$ Orionis, Orion A, and B located at similar distances, D/H is not significantly different, suggesting that there is no systematic difference in the observed chemical properties among these three regions. We identify at least eight high D/H cores in the Orion region and two at high latitudes, which are most likely to be close to the onset of star formation. There is no clear evidence of the evolutionary change in turbulence during the starless phase, suggesting that the dissipation of turbulence is not a major mechanism for the beginning of star formation as judged from observations with a beam size of 0.04 pc., Comment: 55 pages, 12 Figures, 8 Tables, accepted for publication in ApJS

We mapped two molecular cloud cores in the Orion A cloud with the ALMA ACA 7-m Array and with the Nobeyama 45-m radio telescope. These cores have bright N$_2$D$^+$ emission in single-pointing observations with the Nobeyama 45-m radio telescope, have relatively high deuterium fraction, and are thought to be close to the onset of star formation. One is a star-forming core, and the other is starless. These cores are located along filaments observed in N$_2$H$^+$, and show narrow linewidths of 0.41 km s$^{-1}$ and 0.45 km s$^{-1}$ in N$_2$D$^+$, respectively, with the Nobeyama 45-m telescope. Both cores were detected with the ALMA ACA 7m Array in the continuum and molecular lines at Band 6. The starless core G211 shows clumpy structure with several sub-cores, which in turn show chemical differences. Also, the sub-cores in G211 have internal motions that are almost purely thermal. The starless sub-core G211D, in particular, shows a hint of the inverse P Cygni profile, suggesting infall motion. The star-forming core G210 shows an interesting spatial feature of two N$_2$D$^+$ peaks of similar intensity and radial velocity located symmetrically with respect to the single dust continuum peak. One interpretation is that the two N$_2$D$^+$ peaks represent an edge-on pseudo-disk. The CO outflow lobes, however, are not directed perpendicular to the line connecting both N$_2$D$^+$ peaks., Comment: 31 pages, 17 figures, 9 tables, to appear in ApJ (accepted April 23, 2020)

We report the discovery and analysis of the planetary microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-0406, which was observed both from the ground and by the ${\it Spitzer}$ satellite in a solar orbit. At high magnification, the anomaly in the light curve was densely observed by ground-based-survey and follow-up groups, and it was found to be explained by a planetary lens with a planet/host mass ratio of $q=7.0 \times 10^{-4}$ from the light-curve modeling. The ground-only and ${\it Spitzer}$-"only" data each provide very strong one-dimensional (1-D) constraints on the 2-D microlens parallax vector $\bf{\pi_{\rm E}}$. When combined, these yield a precise measurement of $\bf{\pi_{\rm E}}$, and so of the masses of the host $M_{\rm host}=0.56\pm0.07\,M_\odot$ and planet $M_{\rm planet} = 0.41 \pm 0.05\,M_{\rm Jup}$. The system lies at a distance $D_{\rm L}=5.2 \pm 0.5 \ {\rm kpc}$ from the Sun toward the Galactic bulge, and the host is more likely to be a disk population star according to the kinematics of the lens. The projected separation of the planet from the host is $a_{\perp} = 3.5 \pm 0.3 \ {\rm au}$, i.e., just over twice the snow line. The Galactic-disk kinematics are established in part from a precise measurement of the source proper motion based on OGLE-IV data. By contrast, the ${\it Gaia}$ proper-motion measurement of the source suffers from a catastrophic $10\,\sigma$ error., Comment: 40 pages, 12 figures, 10 tables, accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal

The magnetic field structure of a star-forming Bok globule BHR 71 was determined based on near-infrared polarimetric observations of background stars. The magnetic field in BHR 71 was mapped from 25 stars. By using a simple 2D parabolic function, the plane-of-sky magnetic axis of the core was found to be $\theta_{\rm mag} = 125^{\circ} \pm 11^{\circ}$. The plane-of-sky mean magnetic field strength of BHR 71 was found to be $B_{\rm pos} = 8.8 - 15.0$ $\mu$G, indicating that the BHR 71 core is magnetically supercritical with $\lambda = 1.44 - 2.43$. Taking into account the effect of thermal/turbulent pressure and the plane-of-sky magnetic field component, the critical mass of BHR 71 was $M_{\rm cr} = 14.5-18.7$ M$_{\odot}$, which is consistent with the observed core mass of $M_{\rm core} \approx 14.7$ M$_{\odot}$ (Yang et al. 2017). We conclude that BHR 71 is in a condition close to a kinematically critical state, and the magnetic field direction lies close to the plane of sky. Since BHR 71 is a star-forming core, a significantly subcritical condition (i.e., the magnetic field direction deviating from the plane of sky) is unlikely, and collapsed from a condition close to a kinematically critical state. There are two possible scenarios to explain the curved magnetic fields of BHR 71, one is an hourglass-like field structure due to mass accumulation and the other is the Inoue \& Fukui (2013) mechanism, which proposes the interaction of the core with a shock wave to create curved magnetic fields wrapping around the core., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ

In this study, the detailed magnetic field structure of the dense protostellar core Barnard 335 (B335) was revealed based on near-infrared polarimetric observations of background stars to measure dichroically polarized light produced by magnetically aligned dust grains in the core. Magnetic fields pervading B335 were mapped using 24 stars after subtracting unrelated ambient polarization components, for the first time revealing that they have an axisymmetrically distorted hourglass-shaped structure toward the protostellar core. On the basis of simple two- and three-dimensional magnetic field modeling, magnetic inclination angles in the plane-of-sky and line-of-sight directions were determined to be $90^{\circ} \pm 7^{\circ}$ and $50^{\circ} \pm 10^{\circ}$, respectively. The total magnetic field strength of B335 was determined to be $30.2 \pm 17.7$ $\mu {\rm G}$. The critical mass of B335, evaluated using both magnetic and thermal/turbulent support against collapse, was determined to be $M_{\rm cr} = 3.37 \pm 0.94$ ${\rm M}_{\odot}$, which is identical to the observed core mass of $M_{\rm core}=3.67$ M$_{\odot}$. We thus concluded that B335 started its contraction from a condition near equilibrium. We found a linear relationship in the polarization versus extinction diagram, up to $A_V \sim 15$ mag toward the stars with the greatest obscuration, which verified that our observations and analysis provide an accurate depiction of the core., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1910.09121, arXiv:1912.10029

We analyzed the young (2.8-Myr-old) binary system FS Tau A using near-infrared (H-band) high-contrast polarimetry data from Subaru/HiCIAO and sub-millimeter CO (J=2-1) line emission data from ALMA. Both the near-infrared and sub-millimeter observations reveal several clear structures extending to $\sim$240 AU from the stars. Based on these observations at different wavelengths, we report the following discoveries. One arm-like structure detected in the near-infrared band initially extends from the south of the binary with a subsequent turn to the northeast, corresponding to two bar-like structures detected in ALMA observations with an LSRK velocity of 1.19-5.64 km/s. Another feature detected in the near-infrared band extends initially from the north of the binary, relating to an arm-like structure detected in ALMA observations with an LSRK velocity of 8.17-16.43 km/s. From their shapes and velocities, we suggest that these structures can mostly be explained by two streamers that connect the outer circumbinary disk and the central binary components. These discoveries will be helpful for understanding the evolution of streamers and circumstellar disks in young binary systems., Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

The detailed magnetic field structure of the starless dense core CB81 (L1774, Pipe 42) in the Pipe Nebula was determined based on near-infrared polarimetric observations of background stars to measure dichroically polarized light produced by magnetically aligned dust grains in the core. The magnetic fields pervading CB81 were mapped using 147 stars and axisymmetrically distorted hourglass-like fields were identified. On the basis of simple 2D and 3D magnetic field modeling, the magnetic inclination angles in the plane-of-sky and line-of-sight directions were determined to be $4^{\circ} \pm 8^{\circ}$ and $20^{\circ} \pm 20^{\circ}$, respectively. The total magnetic field strength of CB81 was found to be $7.2 \pm 2.3$ $\mu{\rm G}$. Taking into account the effects of thermal/turbulent pressure and magnetic fields, the critical mass of CB81 was calculated to be $M_{\rm cr}=4.03 \pm 0.40$ M$_{\odot}$, which is close to the observed core mass of $M_{\rm core}=3.37 \pm 0.51$ M$_{\odot}$. We thus conclude that CB81 is in a condition close to the critical state. In addition, a spatial offset of $92''$ was found between the center of magnetic field geometry and the dust extinction distribution; this offset structure could not have been produced by self-gravity. The data also indicate a linear relationship between polarization and extinction up to $A_V \sim 30$ mag going toward the core center. This result confirms that near-infrared polarization can accurately trace the overall magnetic field structure of the core., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1910.09121

Observational data for the hourglass-like magnetic field toward the starless dense core FeSt 1-457 were compared with a flux freezing magnetic field model (Myers et al. 2018). Fitting of the observed plane-of-sky magnetic field using the flux freezing model gave a residual angle dispersion comparable with the results based on a simple three-dimensional parabolic model. The best-fit parameters for the flux freezing model were a line-of-sight magnetic inclination angle of $\gamma_{\rm mag} = 35^{\circ} \pm 15^{\circ}$ and a core center to ambient (background) density contrast of $\rho_{\rm c} / \rho_{\rm bkg} = 75$. The initial density for core formation ($\rho_0$) was estimated to be $\rho_{\rm c} / 75 = 4670$ cm$^{-3}$, which is about one order of magnitude higher than the expected density ($\sim 300$ cm$^{-3}$) for the inter-clump medium of the Pipe Nebula. FeSt 1-457 is likely to have been formed from the accumulation of relatively dense gas, and the relatively dense background column density of $A_V \simeq 5$ mag supports this scenario. The initial radius (core formation radius) $R_0$ and the initial magnetic field strength $B_0$ were obtained to be 0.15 pc ($1.64 R$) and $10.8-14.6$ $\mu$G, respectively. We found that the initial density $\rho_0$ is consistent with the mean density of the nearly critical magnetized filament with magnetic field strength $B_0$ and radius $R_0$. The relatively dense initial condition for core formation can be naturally understood if the origin of the core is the fragmentation of magnetized filaments., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ

The SR24 multi-star system hosts both circumprimary and circumsecondary disks, which are strongly misaligned from each other. The circumsecondary disk is circumbinary in nature. Interestingly, both disks are interacting, and they possibly rotate in opposite directions. To investigate the nature of this unique twin disk system, we present 0.''1 resolution near-infrared polarized intensity images of the circumstellar structures around SR24, obtained with HiCIAO mounted on the Subaru 8.2 m telescope. Both the circumprimary disk and the circumsecondary disk are resolved and have elongated features. While the position angle of the major axis and radius of the NIR polarization disk around SR24S are 55$^{\circ}$ and 137 au, respectively, those around SR24N are 110$^{\circ}$ and 34 au, respectively. With regard to overall morphology, the circumprimary disk around SR24S shows strong asymmetry, whereas the circumsecondary disk around SR24N shows relatively strong symmetry. Our NIR observations confirm the previous claim that the circumprimary and circumsecondary disks are misaligned from each other. Both the circumprimary and circumsecondary disks show similar structures in $^{12}$CO observations in terms of its size and elongation direction. This consistency is because both NIR and $^{12}$CO are tracing surface layers of the flared disks. As the radius of the polarization disk around SR24N is roughly consistent with the size of the outer Roche lobe, it is natural to interpret the polarization disk around SR24N as a circumbinary disk surrounding the SR24Nb-Nc system., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in AJ

The magnetic field structure, kinematical stability, and evolutionary status of the starless dense core Barnard 68 (B68) are revealed based on the near-infrared polarimetric observations of background stars, measuring the dichroically polarized light produced by aligned dust grains in the core. After subtracting unrelated ambient polarization components, the magnetic fields pervading B68 are mapped using 38 stars and axisymmetrically distorted hourglass-like magnetic fields are obtained, although the evidence for the hourglass field is not very strong. On the basis of simple 2D and 3D magnetic field modeling, the magnetic inclination angles on the plane-of-sky and in the line-of-sight direction are determined to be $47^{\circ} \pm 5^{\circ}$ and $20^{\circ} \pm 10^{\circ}$, respectively. The total magnetic field strength of B68 is obtained to be $26.1 \pm 8.7$ $\mu {\rm G}$. The critical mass of B68, evaluated using both magnetic and thermal/turbulent support, is $M_{\rm cr} = 2.30 \pm 0.20$ ${\rm M}_{\odot}$, which is consistent with the observed core mass of $M_{\rm core}=2.1$ M$_{\odot}$, suggesting nearly critical state. We found a relatively linear relationship between polarization and extinction up to $A_V \sim 30$ mag toward the stars with deepest obscuration. Further theoretical and observational studies are required to explain the dust alignment in cold and dense regions in the core., Comment: Accepted by PASJ

The formation scenario of brown dwarfs is still unclear because observational studies to investigate its initial condition are quite limited. Our systematic survey of nearby low-mass star-forming regions using the Atacama Compact Array (aka Morita array) and the IRAM 30 m telescope in 1.2 mm continuum has identified a centrally concentrated starless condensation with a central H$_2$ volume density of $\sim$10$^6$ cm$^{-3}$, MC5-N, connected to a narrow (width $\sim$0.03 pc) filamentary cloud in the Taurus L1495 region. The mass of the core is $\sim$0.2-0.4 $M_{\odot}$, which is an order of magnitude smaller than typical low-mass prestellar cores. Taking into account a typical core to star formation efficiency for prestellar cores ($\sim$20%-40%) in nearby molecular clouds, brown dwarf(s) or very low-mass star(s) may be going to be formed in this core. We have found possible substructures at the high-density portion of the core, although much higher angular resolution observation is needed to clearly confirm them. The subsequent N$_2$H$^+$ and N$_2$D$^+$ observations using the Nobeyama 45 m telescope have confirmed the high-deuterium fractionation ($\sim$30%). These dynamically and chemically evolved features indicate that this core is on the verge of proto-brown dwarf or very low-mass star formation and is an ideal source to investigate the initial conditions of such low-mass objects via gravitational collapse and/or fragmentation of the filamentary cloud complex., Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures, PASJ accepted for publication

We present H-band polarized scattered light imagery and JHK high-contrast spectroscopy of the protoplanetary disk around HD 163296 observed with the HiCIAO and SCExAO/CHARIS instruments at Subaru Observatory. The polarimetric imagery resolve a broken ring structure surrounding HD 163296 that peaks at a distance along the major axis of 0.65 (66 AU) and extends out to 0.98 (100 AU) along the major axis. Our 2011 H-band data exhibit clear axisymmetry, with the NW- and SE- side of the disk exhibiting similar intensities. Our data are clearly different than 2016 epoch H-band observations from VLT/SPHERE that found a strong 2.7x asymmetry between the NW- and SE-side of the disk. Collectively, these results indicate the presence of time variable, non-azimuthally symmetric illumination of the outer disk. Based on our 3D-MCRT modeling of contemporaneous IR spectroscopic and H-band polarized intensity imagery of the system, we suggest that while the system could plausibly host an inclined inner disk component, such a component is unlikely to be responsible for producing the observed time-dependent azimuthal variations in the outer scattered light disk of the system. While our SCExAO/CHARIS data are sensitive enough to recover the planet candidate identified from NIRC2 in the thermal IR, we fail to detect an object with a corresponding JHK brightness estimated from the atmospheric models of Baraffe et al. 2003. This suggests that the candidate is either fainter in JHK bands than model predictions, possibly due to extinction from the disk or atmospheric dust/clouds, or that it is an artifact of the dataset/data processing. Our SCExAO/CHARIS data lower the IR mass limits for planets inferred at larger stellocentric separations; however, these ALMA-predicted protoplanet candidates are currently still consistent with direct imaging constraints., Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables

The relationship between submillimeter (submm) dust emission polarization and near-infrared (NIR) $H$-band polarization produced by dust dichroic extinction was studied for the cold starless dense core FeSt 1-457. The distribution of polarization angles ($90^{\circ}$-rotated for submm) and degrees were found to be very different between at submm and NIR wavelengths. The mean polarization angles for FeSt 1-457 at submm and NIR wavelengths are $132.1^{\circ} \pm 22.0^{\circ}$ and $2.7^{\circ} \pm 16.2^{\circ}$, respectively. The correlation between $P_H$ and $A_V$ was found to be linear from outermost regions to relatively dense line of sight of $A_V \approx 25$ mag, indicating that NIR polarization reflects overall polarization (magnetic field) structure of the core at least in this density range. The flat $P_H/A_V$ versus $A_V$ correlations were confirmed, and the polarization efficiency was found to be comparable to the observational upper limit (Jones 1989). On the other hand, as reported by Alves et al., submm polarization degrees show clear linearly decreasing trend against $A_V$ from $A_V \approx 20$ mag to the densest center ($A_V \approx 41$ mag), appearing as "polarization hole" structure. The power law index for the $P_{\rm submm}$ versus $A_V$ relationship was obtained to be $\approx -1$, indicating that the alignment for the submm sensitive dust is lost. These very different polarization distributions at submm and NIR wavelengths suggest that (1) there is different radiation environment at these wavelengths or (2) submm-sensitive dust is localized or the combination of them., Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ)

In the present study, the magnetic field scaling on density, $|B| \propto \rho^{\kappa}$, was revealed in a single starless core for the first time. The $\kappa$ index of $0.78 \pm 0.10$ was obtained toward the starless dense core FeSt 1-457 based on the analysis of the radial distribution of the polarization angle dispersion of background stars measured at the near-infrared wavelengths. The result prefers $\kappa = 2/3$ for the case of isotropic contraction, and the difference of the observed value from $\kappa = 1/2$ is 2.8 sigma. The distribution of the ratio of mass to magnetic flux was evaluated. FeSt 1-457 was found to be magnetically supercritical near the center ($\lambda \approx 2$), whereas nearly critical or slightly subcritical at the core boundary ($\lambda \approx 0.98$). Ambipolar-diffusion-regulated star formation models for the case of moderate magnetic field strength may explain the physical status of FeSt 1-457. The mass-to-flux ratio distribution for typical dense cores (critical Bonnor--Ebert sphere with central $\lambda=2$ and $\kappa=1/2$--$2/3$) was calculated and found to be magnetically critical/subcritical at the core edge, which indicates that typical dense cores are embedded in and evolve from magnetically critical/subcritical diffuse surrounding medium., Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ)

We conducted high-contrast polarimetry observations of T Tau in the H-band, using the HiCIAO instrument mounted on the Subaru Telescope, revealing structures as near as 0.$\arcsec$1 from the stars T Tau N and T Tau S. The whole T Tau system is found to be surrounded by nebula-like envelopes, and several outflow-related structures are detected in these envelopes. We analyzed the detailed polarization patterns of the circumstellar structures near each component of this triple young star system and determined constraints on the circumstellar disks and outflow structures. We suggest that the nearly face-on circumstellar disk of T Tau N is no larger than 0.$\arcsec$8, or 117 AU, in the northwest, based on the existence of a hole in this direction, and no larger than 0.$\arcsec$27, or 40 AU, in the south. A new structure "N5" extends to about 0.$\arcsec$42, or 59 AU, on the southwest of the star, believed to be part of the disk. We suggest that T Tau S is surrounded by a highly inclined circumbinary disk with a radius of about 0.$\arcsec$3, or 44 AU, with a position angle of about 30$^\circ$, that is misaligned with the orbit of the T Tau S binary. After analyzing the positions and polarization vector patterns of the outflow-related structures, we suggest that T Tau S should trigger the well-known E-W outflow, and is also likely to be responsible for a southwest precessing outflow "coil" and a possible south outflow., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, accepted by The Astrophysical Journal

We present $H$- and $K_{\rm s}$-bands observations of the LkH$\alpha$ 330 disk with a multi-band detection of the large gap and spiral-like structures. The morphology of the outer disk ($r\sim$$0\farcs3$) at PA=0--45$^\circ$ and PA=180--290$^\circ$ are likely density wave-induced spirals and comparison between our observational results and simulations suggests a planet formation. We have also investigated the azimuthal profiles at the ring and the outer-disk regions as well as radial profiles in the directions of the spiral-like structures and semi-major axis. Azimuthal analysis shows a large variety in wavelength and implies that the disk has non-axisymmetric dust distributions. The radial profiles in the major-axis direction (PA=$271^\circ$) suggest that the outer region ($r\geq0\farcs25$) may be influenced by shadows of the inner region of the disk. The spiral-like directions (PA=10$^\circ$ and 230$^\circ$) show different radial profiles, which suggests that the surfaces of the spiral-like structures are highly flared and/or have different dust properties. Finally, a color-map of the disk shows a lack of an outer eastern region in the $H$-band disk, which may hint the presence of an inner object that casts a directional shadow onto the disk., Comment: 12pages, 16 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in AJ

The relationship between dust polarization and extinction was determined for the cold dense starless molecular cloud core FeSt 1-457 based on the background star polarimetry of dichroic extinction at near-infrared wavelengths. Owing to the known (three-dimensional) magnetic field structure, the observed polarizations from the core were corrected by considering (a) the subtraction of the ambient polarization component, (b) the depolarization effect of inclined distorted magnetic fields, and (c) the magnetic inclination angle of the core. After these corrections, a linear relationship between polarization and extinction was obtained for the core in the range up to $A_V \approx 20$ mag. The initial polarization vs. extinction diagram changed dramatically after the corrections of (a) to (c), with the correlation coefficient being refined from 0.71 to 0.79. These corrections should affect the theoretical interpretation of the observational data. The slope of the finally obtained polarization--extinction relationship is $P_H / E_{H-K_s} = 11.00 \pm 0.72$ $\%$ ${\rm mag}^{-1}$, which is close to the statistically estimated upper limit of the interstellar polarization efficiency (Jones 1989). This consistency suggests that the upper limit of interstellar polarization efficiency might be determined by the observational viewing angle toward polarized astronomical objects., Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ)

We have investigated the TUKH122 prestellar core in the Orion A cloud using ALMA 3 mm dust continuum, N$_2$H$^+$ ($J=1-0$), and CH$_3$OH ($J_K=2_K-1_K$) molecular line observations. Previous studies showed that TUKH122 is likely on the verge of star formation because the turbulence is almost dissipated and chemically evolved among other starless cores in the Orion A cloud. By combining ALMA 12-m and ACA data, we recover extended emission with a resolution of $\sim5"$ corresponding to 0.01 pc and identify 6 condensations with a mass range of $0.1-0.4$ $M_\odot$ and a radius of $\lesssim0.01$ pc. These condensations are gravitationally bound following a virial analysis and are embedded in the filament including the elongated core with a mass of $\sim29$ $M_\odot$ and a radial density profile of $r^{-1.6}$ derived by {\it Herschel}. The separation of these condensations is $\sim0.035$ pc, consistent with the thermal jeans length at a density of $4.4\times10^5$ cm$^{-3}$. This density is similar to the central part of the core. We also find a tendency that the N$_2$H$^+$ molecule seems to deplete at the dust peak condensation. This condensation may be beginning to collapse because the linewidth becomes broader. Therefore, the fragmentation still occurs in the prestellar core by thermal Jeans instability and multiple stars are formed within the TUKH122 prestellar core. The CH$_3$OH emission shows a large shell-like distribution and surrounds these condensations, suggesting that the CH$_3$OH molecule formed on dust grains is released into gas phase by non-thermal desorption such as photoevaporation caused by cosmic-ray induced UV radiation., Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ

Three dimensional (3D) magnetic field information on molecular clouds and cores is important for revealing their kinematical stability (magnetic support) against gravity which is fundamental for studying the initial conditions of star formation. In the present study, the 3D magnetic field structure of the dense starless core FeSt 1-457 is determined based on the near-infrared polarimetric observations of the dichroic polarization of background stars and simple 3D modeling. With an obtained angle of line-of-sight magnetic inclination axis $\theta_{\rm inc}$ of $45^{\circ}\pm10^{\circ}$ and previously determined plane-of-sky magnetic field strength $B_{\rm pol}$ of $23.8\pm12.1$ $\mu{\rm G}$, the total magnetic field strength for FeSt 1-457 is derived to be $33.7\pm18.0$ $\mu{\rm G}$. The critical mass of FeSt 1-457, evaluated using both magnetic and thermal/turbulent support is ${M}_{\rm cr} = 3.70\pm0.92$ ${\rm M}_{\odot}$, which is identical to the observed core mass, $M_{\rm core}=3.55\pm0.75$ ${\rm M}_{\odot}$. We thus conclude that the stability of FeSt 1-457 is in a condition close to the critical state. Without infalling gas motion and no associated young stars, the core is regarded to be in the earliest stage of star formation, i.e., the stage just before the onset of dynamical collapse following the attainment of a supercritical condition. These properties would make FeSt 1-457 one of the best starless cores for future studies of the initial conditions of star formation., Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ)

Large exoplanet surveys have successfully detected thousands of exoplanets to-date. Utilizing these detections and non-detections to constrain our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems also requires a detailed understanding of the basic properties of their host stars. We have determined the basic stellar properties of F, K, and G stars in the Strategic Exploration of Exoplanets and Disks with Subaru (SEEDS) survey from echelle spectra taken at the Apache Point Observatory's 3.5m telescope. Using ROBOSPECT to extract line equivalent widths and TGVIT to calculate the fundamental parameters, we have computed Teff, log(g), vt, [Fe/H], chromospheric activity, and the age for our sample. Our methodology was calibrated against previously published results for a portion of our sample. The distribution of [Fe/H] in our sample is consistent with that typical of the Solar neighborhood. Additionally, we find the ages of most of our sample are $< 500 Myrs$, but note that we cannot determine robust ages from significantly older stars via chromospheric activity age indicators. The future meta-analysis of the frequency of wide stellar and sub-stellar companions imaged via the SEEDS survey will utilize our results to constrain the occurrence of detected co-moving companions with the properties of their host stars., Comment: 22 Pages, 10 Figures, 5 Tables. Published in MNRAS

Magnetic fields are believed to play an important role in controlling the stability and contraction of dense condensations of gas and dust leading to the formation of stars and planetary systems. In the present study, the magnetic field of FeSt 1-457, a cold starless molecular cloud core, was mapped on the basis of the polarized near-infrared light from 185 background stars after being dichroically absorbed by dust aligned with the magnetic field in the core. A distinct "hourglass-shaped" magnetic field was identified in the region of the core, which was interpreted as the first evidence of a magnetic field structure distorted by mass condensation in a starless core. The steep curvature of the magnetic field lines obtained in the present study indicates that the distortion was mainly created during the formation phase of the dense core. The derived mass-to-magnetic flux ratio indicates that the core is in a magnetically supercritical state. However, the stability of the core can be considered to be in a nearly critical state if the additional contributions from the thermal and turbulent support are included. Further diffusion of the magnetic field and/or turbulent dissipation would cause the onset of dynamical collapse of the core. The geometrical relationship between the direction of the magnetic field lines and the elongation of the core was found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for the formation of Sun-like stars under the influence of a magnetic field., Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ)

By performing non-masked polarization imaging with Subaru/HiCIAO, polarized scattered light from the inner region of the disk around the GG Tau A system was successfully detected in the $H$ band with a spatial resolution of approximately 0.07$\arcsec$, revealing the complicated inner disk structures around this young binary. This paper reports the observation of an arc-like structure to the north of GG Tau Ab and part of a circumstellar structure that is noticeable around GG Tau Aa extending to a distance of approximately 28 AU from the primary star. The speckle noise around GG Tau Ab constrains its disk radius to <13 AU. Based on the size of the circumbinary ring and the circumstellar disk around GG Tau Aa, the semi-major axis of the binary's orbit is likely to be 62 AU. A comparison of the present observations with previous ALMA and near-infrared (NIR) H$_2$ emission observations suggests that the north arc could be part of a large streamer flowing from the circumbinary ring to sustain the circumstellar disks. According to the previous studies, the circumstellar disk around GG Tau Aa has enough mass and can sustain itself for a duration sufficient for planet formation; thus, our study indicates that planets can form within close (separation $\lesssim$ 100 AU) young binary systems., Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ, 12 pages, 5 figures

We present high-contrast H-band polarized intensity (PI) images of the transitional disk around the young solar-like star GM Aur. The near-infrared direct imaging of the disk was derived by polarimetric differential imaging using the Subaru 8.2-m Telescope and HiCIAO. An angular resolution and an inner working angle of 0."07 and r~0."05, respectively, were obtained. We clearly resolved a large inner cavity, with a measured radius of 18+/-2 au, which is smaller than that of a submillimeter interferometric image (28 au). This discrepancy in the cavity radii at near-infrared and submillimeter wavelengths may be caused by a 3-4M_Jup planet about 20 au away from the star, near the edge of the cavity. The presence of a near-infrared inner is a strong constraint on hypotheses for inner cavity formation in a transitional disk. A dust filtration mechanism has been proposed to explain the large cavity in the submillimeter image, but our results suggest that this mechanism must be combined with an additional process. We found that the PI slope of the outer disk is significantly different from the intensity slope obtained from HST/NICMOS, and this difference may indicate the grain growth process in the disk., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

We present H-band (1.6 {\mu}m) scattered light observations of the transitional disk RX J1615.3-3255, located in the ~1 Myr old Lupus association. From a polarized intensity image, taken with the HiCIAO instrument of the Subaru Telescope, we deduce the position angle and the inclination angle of the disk. The disk is found to extend out to 68 $\pm$ 12 AU in scattered light and no clear structure is observed. Our inner working angle of 24 AU does not allow us to detect a central decrease in intensity similar to that seen at 30 AU in the 880 {\mu}m continuum observations. We compare the observations with multiple disk models based on the Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) and submm interferometry and find that an inner rim of the outer disk at 30 AU containing small silicate grains produces a polarized intensity signal which is an order of magnitude larger than observed. We show that a model in which the small dust grains extend smoothly into the cavity found for large grains is closer to the actual H-band observations. A comparison of models with different dust size distributions suggests that the dust in the disk might have undergone significant processing compared to the interstellar medium., Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in A&A

We find a new substellar companion to the Pleiades member star, Pleiades HII 3441, using the Subaru telescope with adaptive optics. The discovery is made as part of the high-contrast imaging survey to search for planetary-mass and substellar companions in the Pleiades and young moving groups. The companion has a projected separation of 0".49 +/- 0".02 (66 +/- 2 AU) and a mass of 68 +/- 5 M_J based on three observations in the J-, H-, and K_S-band. The spectral type is estimated to be M7 (~2700 K), and thus no methane absorption is detected in the H band. Our Pleiades observations result in the detection of two substellar companions including one previously reported among 20 observed Pleiades stars, and indicate that the fraction of substellar companions in the Pleiades is about 10.0 +26.1/-8.8 %. This is consistent with multiplicity studies of both the Pleiades stars and other open clusters., Comment: Main text (14 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables), and Supplementary data (8 pages, 3 tables). Accepted for Publications of Astronomical Society of Japan

We present new analysis of multi-epoch, H-band, scattered light images of the AB Aur system. We used a Monte Carlo, radiative transfer code to simultaneously model the system's SED and H-band polarized intensity imagery. We find that a disk-dominated model, as opposed to one that is envelope dominated, can plausibly reproduce AB Aur's SED and near-IR imagery. This is consistent with previous modeling attempts presented in the literature and supports the idea that at least a subset of AB Aur's spirals originate within the disk. In light of this, we also analyzed the movement of spiral structures in multi-epoch H-band total light and polarized intensity imagery of the disk. We detect no significant rotation or change in spatial location of the spiral structures in these data, which span a 5.8 year baseline. If such structures are caused by disk-planet interactions, the lack of observed rotation constrains the location of the orbit of planetary perturbers to be >47 AU., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, Accepted to ApJ

We present the first near-infrared scattered-light detection of the transitional disk around V1247 Ori, which was obtained using high-resolution polarimetric differential imaging observations with Subaru/HiCIAO. Our imaging in the H band reveals the disk morphology at separations of ~0.14"-0.86" (54-330 au) from the central star. The polarized intensity (PI) image shows a remarkable arc-like structure toward the southeast of the star, whereas the fainter northwest region does not exhibit any notable features. The shape of the arm is consistent with an arc of 0.28" $\pm$ 0.09" in radius (108 au from the star), although the possibility of a spiral arm with a small pitch angle cannot be excluded. V1247 Ori features an exceptionally large azimuthal contrast in scattered, polarized light; the radial peak of the southeastern arc is about three times brighter than the northwestern disk measured at the same distance from the star. Combined with the previous indication of an inhomogeneous density distribution in the gap at $\lesssim$46 au, the notable asymmetry in the outer disk suggests the presence of unseen companions and/or planet-forming processes ongoing in the arc., Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ

We present high-contrast observations of 68 young stellar objects (YSOs) explored as part of the SEEDS survey on the Subaru telescope. Our targets are very young ($<$10 Myr) stars, which often harbor protoplanetary disks where planets may be forming. We achieve a typical contrast of $\sim$$10^{-4}$--$10^{-5.5}$ at an angular distance of 1\arcsec\ from the central star, corresponding to typical mass sensitivities (assuming hot-start evolutionary models) of $\sim$10 ${\rm M_J}$ at 70 AU and $\sim$6 ${\rm M_J}$ at 140 AU. We detected a new stellar companion to HIP 79462 and confirmed the substellar objects GQ Lup b and ROXs 42B b. An additional six companion candidates await follow-up observations to check for common proper motion. Our SEEDS YSO observations probe the population of planets and brown dwarfs at the very youngest ages; these may be compared to the results of surveys targeting somewhat older stars. Our sample and the associated observational results will help enable detailed statistical analyses of giant planet formation., Comment: 31pages, 13 figures, accepted to AJ

A radial velocity (RV) survey for intermediate-mass giants has been operated for over a decade at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory (OAO). The OAO survey has revealed that some giants show long-term linear RV accelerations (RV trends), indicating the presence of outer companions. Direct imaging observations can help clarify what objects generate these RV trends. We present the results of high-contrast imaging observations or six intermediate-mass giants with long-term RV trends using the Subaru Telescope and HiCIAO camera. We detected co-moving companions to $\gamma$ Hya B ($0.61^{+0.12}_{-0.14} M_\odot$), HD 5608 B ($0.10 \pm 0.01 M_\odot$), and HD 109272 B ($0.28 \pm 0.06 M_\odot$). For the remaining targets($\iota$ Dra, 18 Del, and HD 14067) we exclude companions more massive than 30-60 $M_\mathrm{Jup}$ at projected separations of 1arcsec-7arcsec. We examine whether these directly imaged companions or unidentified long-period companions can account for the RV trends observed around the six giants. We find that the Kozai mechanism can explain the high eccentricity of the inner planets $\iota$ Dra b, HD 5608 b, and HD 14067 b., Comment: 33 pases, 9 figures, accepted to ApJ

We present high-contrast H-band polarized intensity images of the transitional disk around the young solar-like star LkCa 15. By utilizing Subaru/HiCIAO for polarimetric differential imaging, both the angular resolution and the inner working angle reach 0.07" and r=0.1", respectively. We obtained a clearly resolved gap (width <~ 27 AU) at ~ 48 AU from the central star. This gap is consistent with images reported in previous studies. We also confirmed the existence of a bright inner disk with a misaligned position angle of 13+/-4 degree with respect to that of the outer disk, i.e., the inner disk is possibly warped. The large gap and the warped inner disk both point to the existence of a multiple planetary system with a mass of <~1Mjup., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted in PASJ on December 14, 2015

A high angular resolution near-infrared polarized-intensity image of the GG Tau A binary system was obtained with the Subaru Telescope. The image shows the circumbinary disk scattering the light from the central binary. The azimuthal profile of the polarized intensity of the circumbinary disk is roughly reproduced by a simple disk model with the Henyey-Greenstein function and the Rayleigh function, indicating small dust grains at the surface of the disk. Combined with a previous observation of the circumbinary disk, our image indicates that the gap structure in the circumbinary disk orbits anti-clockwise, while material in the disk orbit clockwise. We propose a shadow of material located between the central binary and the circumbinary disk. The separations and position angles of the stellar components of the binary in the past 20 years are consistent with the binary orbit with a = 33.4 AU and e = 0.34., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures

We present the first spatially resolved polarized scattered light H-band detection of the DoAr 28 transitional disk. Our two epochs of imagery detect the scattered light disk from our effective inner working angle of 0.10" (13 AU) out to 0.50" (65 AU). This inner working angle is interior to the location of the system's gap inferred by previous studies using SED modeling (15 AU). We detected a candidate point source companion 1.08" northwest of the system; however, our second epoch of imagery strongly suggests that this object is a background star. We constructed a grid of Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer models of the system, and our best fit models utilize a modestly inclined (50 deg), 0.01 Msun disk that has a partially depleted inner gap from the dust sublimation radius out to ~8 AU. Subtracting this best fit, axi-symmetric model from our polarized intensity data reveals evidence for two small asymmetries in the disk, which could be attributable to variety of mechanisms., Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables

Coronagraphic imagery of the circumstellar disk around HD 169142 in H-band polarized intensity (PI) with Subaru/HiCIAO is presented. The emission scattered by dust particles at the disk surface in 0.2" <= r <= 1.2", or 29 <= r <= 174 AU, is successfully detected. The azimuthally-averaged radial profile of the PI shows a double power-law distribution, in which the PIs in r=29-52 AU and r=81.2-145 AU respectively show r^{-3}-dependence. These two power-law regions are connected smoothly with a transition zone (TZ), exhibiting an apparent gap in r=40-70 AU. The PI in the inner power-law region shows a deep minimum whose location seems to coincide with the point source at \lambda = 7 mm. This can be regarded as another sign of a protoplanet in TZ. The observed radial profile of the PI is reproduced by a minimally flaring disk with an irregular surface density distribution or with an irregular temperature distribution or with the combination of both. The depletion factor of surface density in the inner power-law region (r< 50 AU) is derived to be <= 0.16 from a simple model calculation. The obtained PI image also shows small scale asymmetries in the outer power-law region. Possible origins for these asymmetries include corrugation of the scattering surface in the outer region, and shadowing effect by a puffed up structure in the inner power-law region., Comment: 26 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ

We present new high-resolution ($\sim$0\farcs09) $H$-band imaging observations of the circumstellar disk around the T Tauri star SU Aur. Our observations with Subaru-HiCIAO have revealed the presence of scattered light as close as 0\farcs15 ($\sim$20 AU) to the star. Within our image, we identify bright emission associated with a disk with a minimum radius of $\sim$90 AU, an inclination of $\sim$35\degr from the plane of the sky, and an approximate P.A. of 15\degr for the major axis. We find a brightness asymmetry between the northern and southern sides of the disk due to a non-axisymmetric disk structure. We also identify a pair of asymmetric tail structures extending east and west from the disk. The western tail extends at least 2\farcs5 (350 AU) from the star, and is probably associated with a reflection nebula previously observed at optical and near-IR wavelengths. The eastern tail extends at least 1\arcsec (140 AU) at the present signal-to-noise. These tails are likely due to an encounter with an unseen brown dwarf, but our results do not exclude the explanation that these tails are outflow cavities or jets., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted by ApJ

We present the first resolved near infrared imagery of the transition disk Oph IRS 48 (WLY 2-48), which was recently observed with ALMA to have a strongly asymmetric sub-millimeter flux distribution. H-band polarized intensity images show a $\sim$60AU radius scattered light cavity with two pronounced arcs of emission, one from Northeast to Southeast and one smaller, fainter and more distant arc in the Northwest. K-band scattered light imagery reveals a similar morphology, but with a clear third arc along the Southwestern rim of the disk cavity. This arc meets the Northwestern arc at nearly a right angle, revealing the presence of a spiral arm or local surface brightness deficit in the disk, and explaining the East-West brightness asymmetry in the H-band data. We also present 0.8-5.4$\mu$m IRTF SpeX spectra of this object, which allow us to constrain the spectral class to A0$\pm$1 and measure a low mass accretion rate of 10$^{-8.5}$M$_{\odot}$/yr, both consistent with previous estimates. We investigate a variety of reddening laws in order to fit the mutliwavelength SED of Oph IRS 48 and find a best fit consistent with a younger, higher luminosity star than previous estimates., Comment: Accepted by ApJ. 19 pages, 15 figures

We report the first independent, second-epoch (re-)detection of a directly-imaged protoplanet candidate. Using $L^\prime$ high-contrast imaging of HD 100546 taken with the Near-Infrared Coronagraph and Imager (NICI) on Gemini South, we recover `HD 100546 b' with a position and brightness consistent with the original VLT/NaCo detection from Quanz et al, although data obtained after 2013 will be required to decisively demonstrate common proper motion. HD 100546 b may be spatially resolved, up to $\approx$ 12-13 AU in diameter, and is embedded in a finger of thermal IR bright, polarized emission extending inwards to at least 0.3". Standard hot-start models imply a mass of $\approx$ 15 $M_{J}$. But if HD 100546 b is newly formed or made visible by a circumplanetary disk, both of which are plausible, its mass is significantly lower (e.g. 1--7 $M_{J}$). Additionally, we discover a thermal IR-bright disk feature, possibly a spiral density wave, at roughly the same angular separation as HD 100546 b but 90 degrees away. Our interpretation of this feature as a spiral arm is not decisive, but modeling analyses using spiral density wave theory implies a wave launching point exterior to $\approx$ 0.45" embedded within the visible disk structure: plausibly evidence for a second, hitherto unseen wide-separation planet. With one confirmed protoplanet candidate and evidence for 1--2 others, HD 100546 is an important evolutionary precursor to intermediate-mass stars with multiple super-jovian planets at moderate/wide separations like HR 8799., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication/to be published in ApJ Letters

We have conducted a systematic near-infrared circular polarization (CP) survey in star-forming regions, covering high-mass, intermediate-mass, and low-mass young stellar objects. All the observations were made using the SIRPOL imaging polarimeter on the Infrared Survey Facility 1.4 m telescope at the South African Astronomical Observatory. We present the polarization properties of ten sub-regions in six star-forming regions. The polarization patterns, extents, and maximum degrees of linear and circular polarizations are used to determine the prevalence and origin of CP in the star-forming regions. Our results show that the CP pattern is quadrupolar in general, the CP regions are extensive, up to 0.65 pc, the CP degrees are high, up to 20 %, and the CP degrees decrease systematically from high- to low-mass young stellar objects. The results are consistent with dichroic extinction mechanisms generating the high degrees of CP in star forming regions., Comment: To appear in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

We compared the number of faint stars detected in deep survey fields with the current stellar distribution model of the Galaxy and found that the detected number in the H band is significantly smaller than the predicted number. This indicates that M-dwarfs, the major component, are fewer in the halo and the thick disk. We used archived data of several surveys in both the north and south field of GOODS (Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey), MODS in GOODS-N, and ERS and CANDELS in GOODS-S. The number density of M-dwarfs in the halo has to be 20+/-13% relative to that in the solar vicinity, in order for the detected number of stars fainter than 20.5 mag in the H band to match with the predicted value from the model. In the thick disk, the number density of M-dwarfs must be reduced (52+/-13%) or the scale height must be decreased (~600 pc). Alternatively, overall fractions of the halo and thick disks can be significantly reduced to achieve the same effect, because our sample mainly consists of faint M-dwarfs. Our results imply that the M-dwarf population in regions distant from the Galactic plane is significantly smaller than previously thought. We then discussed the implications this has on the suitability of the model predictions for the prediction of non-companion faint stars in direct imaging extrasolar planet surveys by using the best-fit number densities., Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, accepted for Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan

We present a new method of analysis for determining the surface geometry of five protoplanetary disks observed with near-infrared imaging polarimetry using Subaru-HiCIAO. Using as inputs the observed distribution of polarized intensity (PI), disk inclination, assumed properties for dust scattering, and other reasonable approximations, we calculate a differential equation to derive the surface geometry. This equation is numerically integrated along the distance from the star at a given position angle. We show that, using these approximations, the local maxima in the PI distribution of spiral arms (SAO 206462, MWC 758) and rings (2MASS J16042165-2130284, PDS 70) are associated with local concave-up structures on the disk surface. We also show that the observed presence of an inner gap in scattered light still allows the possibility of a disk surface that is parallel to the light path from the star, or a disk that is shadowed by structures in the inner radii. Our analysis for rings does not show the presence of a vertical inner wall as often assumed in studies of disks with an inner gap. Finally, we summarize the implications of spiral and ring structures as potential signatures of ongoing planet formation., Comment: 35 pages, 13 figures, 7 tables, accepted by ApJ

We imaged two starless molecular cloud cores, TUKH083 and TUKH122, in the Orion A giant molecular cloud in the CCS and ammonia (NH$_3$) emission with the Very Large Array. TUKH122 contains one NH$_3$ core "TUKH122-n," which is elongated and has a smooth oval boundary. Where observed, the CCS emission surrounds the NH$_3$ core. This configuration resembles that of the N$_2$H$^+$ and CCS distribution in the Taurus starless core L1544, a well-studied example of a dense prestellar core exhibiting infall motions. The linewidth of TUKH122-n is narrow (0.20 km s$^{-1}$) in the NH$_3$ emission line and therefore dominated by thermal motions. The smooth oval shape of the core boundary and narrow linewidth in NH$_3$ seem to imply that TUKH122-n is dynamically relaxed and quiescent. TUKH122-n is similar to L1544 in the kinetic temperature (10 K), linear size (0.03 pc), and virial mass ($\sim$ 2 $M_{\odot}$). Our results strongly suggest that TUKH122-n is on the verge of star formation. TUKH122-n is embedded in the 0.2 pc massive (virial mass $\sim$ 30 $M_{\odot}$) turbulent parent core, while the L1544 NH$_3$ core is embedded in the 0.2 pc less-massive (virial mass $\sim$ 10 $M_{\odot}$) thermal parent core. TUKH083 shows complicated distribution in NH$_3$, but was not detected in CCS. The CCS emission toward TUKH083 appears to be extended, and is resolved out in our interferometric observations., Comment: 38 pages, 13 figures, ApJ, in press

To reveal the structures of a transition disk around a young stellar object in Lupus, Sz 91, we have performed aperture synthesis 345 GHz continuum and CO(3--2) observations with the Submillimeter Array ($\sim1\arcsec$--3$\arcsec$ resolution), and high-resolution imaging of polarized intensity at the $K_s$-band by using the HiCIAO instrument on the Subaru Telescope ($0\farcs25$ resolution). Our observations successfully resolved the inner and outer radii of the dust disk to be 65 AU and 170 AU, respectively, which indicates that Sz 91 is a transition disk source with one of the largest known inner holes. The model fitting analysis of the spectral energy distribution reveals an H$_2$ mass of $2.4\times10^{-3}$ $M_\sun$ in the cold ($T<$30 K) outer part at $653\times10^{-9}$ $M_\sun$) of hot ($T\sim$180 K) dust possibly remains inside the inner hole of the disk. The structure of the hot component could be interpreted as either an unresolved self-luminous companion body (not directly detected in our observations) or a narrow ring inside the inner hole. Significant CO(3--2) emission with a velocity gradient along the major axis of the dust disk is concentrated on the Sz 91 position, suggesting a rotating gas disk with a radius of 420 AU. The Sz 91 disk is possibly a rare disk in an evolutionary stage immediately after the formation of protoplanets because of the large inner hole and the lower disk mass than other transition disks studied thus far.

We have mapped six molecular cloud cores in the Orion A giant molecular cloud (GMC), whose kinetic temperatures range from 10 to 30 K, in CCS and N2H+ with Nobeyama 45 m radio telescope to study their chemical characteristics. We identified 31 intensity peaks in the CCS and N2H+ emission in these molecular cloud cores. It is found for cores with temperatures lower than ~ 25 K that the column density ratio of N(N2H+)/N(CCS) is low toward starless core regions while it is high toward star-forming core regions, in case that we detected both of the CCS and N2H+ emission. This is very similar to the tendency found in dark clouds (kinetic temperature ~ 10 K). The criterion found in the Orion A GMC is N(N2H+)/N(CCS) ~ 2-3. In some cases, the CCS emission is detected toward protostars as well as the N2H+ emission. Secondary late-stage CCS peak in the chemical evolution caused by CO depletion may be a possible explanation for this. We found that the chemical variation of CCS and N2H+ can also be used as a tracer of evolution in warm (10-25 K) GMC cores. On the other hand, some protostars do not accompany N2H+ intensity peaks but are associated with dust continuum emitting regions, suggesting that the N2H+ abundance might be decreased due to CO evaporation in warmer star-forming sites., Comment: 37 pages, 22 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ; typos in table format corrected

We report a discovery of a companion candidate around one of {\it Kepler} Objects of Interest (KOIs), KOI-94, and results of our quantitative investigation of the possibility that planetary candidates around KOI-94 are false positives. KOI-94 has a planetary system in which four planetary detections have been reported by {\it Kepler}, suggesting that this system is intriguing to study the dynamical evolutions of planets. However, while two of those detections (KOI-94.01 and 03) have been made robust by previous observations, the others (KOI-94.02 and 04) are marginal detections, for which future confirmations with various techniques are required. We have conducted high-contrast direct imaging observations with Subaru/HiCIAO in $H$ band and detected a faint object located at a separation of $\sim0.6''$ from KOI-94. The object has a contrast of $\sim 1\times 10^{-3}$ in $H$ band, and corresponds to an M type star on the assumption that the object is at the same distance of KOI-94. Based on our analysis, KOI-94.02 is likely to be a real planet because of its transit depth, while KOI-94.04 can be a false positive due to the companion candidate. The success in detecting the companion candidate suggests that high-contrast direct imaging observations are important keys to examine false positives of KOIs. On the other hand, our transit light curve reanalyses lead to a better period estimate of KOI-94.04 than that on the KOI catalogue and show that the planetary candidate has the same limb darkening parameter value as the other planetary candidates in the KOI-94 system, suggesting that KOI-94.04 is also a real planet in the system., Comment: 28 pages, 4 figures, submitted to ApJ

We carried out an imaging survey for extrasolar planets around stars in the Pleiades (125 Myr, 135 pc) in the $H$ and $K_{S}$ bands using HiCIAO combined with the adaptive optics, AO188, on the Subaru telescope. We found 13 companion candidates fainter than 14.5 mag in the $H$ band around 9 stars. Five of these 13 were confirmed to be background stars by measurement of their proper motion. One was not found in the second epoch observation, and thus was not a background or companion object. One had multi-epoch image, but the precision of its proper motion was not sufficient to conclude whether it was background object. Four other candidates are waiting for second epoch observations to determine their proper motion. Finally, the remaining 2 were confirmed to be 60 $M_{J}$ brown dwarf companions orbiting around HD 23514 (G0) and HII 1348 (K5) respectively, as had been reported in previous studies. In our observations, the average detection limit for a point source was 20.3 mag in the $H$ band beyond 1''.5 from the central star. On the basis of this detection limit, we calculated the detection efficiency to be 90% for a planet with 6 to 12 Jovian masses and a semi-major axis of 50--1000 AU. For this we extrapolated the distribution of planet mass and semi-major axis derived from RV observations and adopted the planet evolution model of Baraffe et al. (2003). As there was no detection of a planet, we estimated the frequency of such planets to be less than 17.9% ($2\sigma$) around one star of the Pleiades cluster., Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ

We present near-infrared coronagraphic imaging polarimetry of RY Tau. The scattered light in the circumstellar environment was imaged at H-band at a high resolution (~0".05) for the first time, using Subaru-HiCIAO. The observed polarized intensity (PI) distribution shows a butterfly-like distribution of bright emission with an angular scale similar to the disk observed at millimeter wavelengths. This distribution is offset toward the blueshifted jet, indicating the presence of a geometrically thick disk or a remnant envelope, and therefore the earliest stage of the Class II evolutionary phase. We perform comparisons between the observed PI distribution and disk models with: (1) full radiative transfer code, using the spectral energy distribution (SED) to constrain the disk parameters; and (2) monochromatic simulations of scattered light which explore a wide range of parameters space to constrain the disk and dust parameters. We show that these models cannot consistently explain the observed PI distribution, SED, and the viewing angle inferred by millimeter interferometry. We suggest that the scattered light in the near-infrared is associated with an optically thin and geometrically thick layer above the disk surface, with the surface responsible for the infrared SED. Half of the scattered light and thermal radiation in this layer illuminates the disk surface, and this process may significantly affect the thermal structure of the disk., Comment: 35 pages, 14 figures, 7 tables, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal

Debris disks around young main-sequence stars often have gaps and cavities which for a long time have been interpreted as possibly being caused by planets. In recent years, several giant planet discoveries have been made in systems hosting disks of precisely this nature, further implying that interactions with planets could be a common cause of such disk structures. As part of the SEEDS high-contrast imaging survey, we are surveying a population of debris disk-hosting stars with gaps and cavities implied by their spectral energy distributions, in order to attempt to spatially resolve the disk as well as to detect any planets that may be responsible for the disk structure. Here we report on intermediate results from this survey. Five debris disks have been spatially resolved, and a number of faint point sources have been discovered, most of which have been tested for common proper motion, which in each case has excluded physical companionship with the target stars. From the detection limits of the 50 targets that have been observed, we find that beta Pic b-like planets (~10 Mjup planets around G--A-type stars) near the gap edges are less frequent than 15--30%, implying that if giant planets are the dominant cause of these wide (27 AU on average) gaps, they are generally less massive than beta Pic b., Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Near-infrared polarimetric imaging observations toward the Galactic center have been carried out to examine the efficiency and wavelength dependence of interstellar polarization. A total area of about 5.7 deg$^2$ is covered in the $J$, $H$, and $K_S$ bands. We examined the polarization efficiency, defined as the ratio of degree of polarization to color excess. The interstellar medium between the Galactic center and us shows the polarization efficiency lower than that in the Galactic disk by a factor of three. Moreover we investigated the spatial variation of the polarization efficiency by comparing it with those of color excess, degree of polarization, and position angle. The spatial variations of color excess and degree of polarization depend on the Galactic latitude, while the polarization efficiency varies independently of the Galactic structure. Position angles are nearly parallel to the Galactic plane, indicating the longitudinal magnetic field configuration between the Galactic center and us. The polarization efficiency anticorrelates with dispersions of position angles. The low polarization efficiency and its spatial variation can be explained by the differences of the magnetic field directions along the line-of-sight. From the lower polarization efficiency, we suggest a higher strength of a random component relative to a uniform component of the magnetic field between the Galactic center and us. We also derived the ratios of degree of polarization $p_H/p_J$ = 0.581 $\pm$ 0.004 and $p_{K_S}/p_H$ = 0.620 $\pm$ 0.002. The power law indices of the wavelength dependence of polarization are $\beta_{JH}$ = 2.08 $\pm$ 0.02 and $\beta_{HK_S}$ = 1.76 $\pm$ 0.01. Therefore the wavelength dependence of interstellar polarization exhibits flattening toward longer wavelengths in the range of 1.25$-$2.14 $\micron$. The flattening would be caused by aligned large-size dust grains., Comment: 40 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables, Accepted for publication in AJ