We present a method to improve the RV (radial velocity) measurements accuracy by using telluric lines. Telluric lines are used to estimate the wavelength scale drift over the detector of the spectrograph. In the case of BOES, the Echelle spectrograph at BOAO (Bohyunsan Optical Astronomical Observatory), the wavelength scale drift can be several hundreds m/s over 24 hours. Due to the wavelength scale drift, the RV measurements accuracy of BOES is limited to several hundreds m/s. By estimating the wavelength scale drift by telluric lines, we can remove its effect to improve the RV measurements accuracy to about 40 m/s.
To detect exoplanets and study pulsation of K giant stars, we have observed precise RV (radial velocity) of about 55 early K giant (K0 - K4) stars brighter than V = 5 magnitude since 2003 by using BOES, a high resolution Echelle spectrograph attached to the 1.8 m telescope at BOAO (Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory). We detected periodic RV variation of KO III star β Gem (HD 62509) with a period P=596.6 ± 2.3 days and a semi-amplitude K=44.8 ± 0.7 ms-1 If we adopt 1.7 M⊙ for the mass of β Gem, this yields the minimum mass of the companion m sin i = 2.64 M Jupiter results agree well with Hatzes et al. (2006) and Reffert et al. (2006), and confirm their discovery of a planetary object around β Gem. We also confirmed about 192 minutes short period stellar oscillation found by Hatzes and Zechmeister (2007). This is the first report of exoplanet detection using BOES and demonstrates that the RV observation using BOES is accurate and stable enough to detect exoplanets around bright K giant stars.
In this study we present basic principles and features of RVI2CELL, a precise RV (radial velocity) estimation program to process stellar spectra obtained through iodine cell. RVI2CELL is very robust and fast program. The instrument profile can be modeled as a sum of Gaussian functions or a non-parametric arbitrary shape. The RV accuracy estimated by observation of a RV standard star Tau Ceti indicates about 9 m/s.
We present the result of radial velocity observation of a W UMa type binary star EX Leo. We observed the star on February 16, 2003, using Long-Slit spectrograph of BOAO(Bohyunsan Optical Astronomical Observatory). Since the spectral lines are broad due to its fast rotation, it is difficult to distinguish two radial velocities from cross correlation function. Instead of cross correlation function, we used broadening function to develop our own code which estimate the radial velocity of the broadened line spectra. With our own code, radial velocities of primary and secondary stars are derived simultaneously. From the radial velocity curve fit, we obtained K1=50.24±8.29km/s and K2=254.05±20.984km/s respectively.
We developed a new program for automatic continuum normalization of Echelle spectrographic data. Using this algorithm, we have determined spectral continuum of almost BOES data. The first advantage of this algorithm is that we can save much time for continuum determination and normalization. The second advantage is that the result of this algorithm is very reliable for almost spectral type of spectrum. But this algorithm cannot be applied directly to the spectrum which has very strong and broad emission lines, for example Wolf-Rayet type spectrum. We implanted this algorithm to the program which was developed in the previous study. And we introduced more upgraded BOES data reduction program. This program has more convenient graphical user interface environment, so users can easily reduce BOES data. Lastly, we presented the result of study on line profile variation of magnetic Ap/Bp stars analyzed using this program.
We developed a data reduction program (RX) to process BOES data automatically. It processes a whole set of data taken during one night automatically - preprocessing, extraction to one-dimensional spectra and wavelength calibration. The execution is very fast and the performance looks pretty good. We described the performance of this program, comparing its procedure with that of IRAF. RX does not have functions for continuum normalization yet. We will develop those functions in the next works.
We plan to install the polarimetric optics in the AGU(acqusition and guiding unit) of the 1.8 m telescope at the BOAO(Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory). With this, the spectropolarimetric observations with the resolution of 45,000 and 60,000 in 4,000 to 8,000\AA ange could be done by the BOES(BOao Echelle Spectrograph). If we use the precision radial velocity measurement capability of the BOES, the accuracy of the magnetic field intensity measurements with this new BOES stokesmeter will be much increased. We present here the design concept of the BOES stokesmeter. Some details on the optics, mechanical parts, fiber parts and the lab test procedures of this stokesmeter are explained.