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Discover VERA, the array dedicated to VLBI astrometry, exploring the Milky Way's 3D structure and dynamics. Conducting high-energy object studies, microlensing events, and testing general relativity. Revolutionize astrometric missions and study dark objects.
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VERA project Mareki Honma (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan) 2/Mar/2005 @ Hokkaido Univ.
Project Overview VERA: VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry • The first array dedicated to VLBI astrometry • New technique : dual-beam antenna • Target sources : maser sources • Science target : to establish 3D structure and dynamics of the Milky Way
Science with VERA • Fundamental structure of the Galaxy • Physics of Mira variables, Period-Luminosity Relation • Outflows in star forming regions • High energy object (XRB, GRB etc.) • General relativity test
Summary of Current status 2000 Construction started 2002 Array construction completed 2002 System evaluation as single dish, sigle-beam VLBI 2003 System evaluation as dual-beam VLBI 2004~ Evaluation of astrometric precision Geodetic observations VLBI with universities 2003/04~ Common-use (domestic only) 2004~ project observation 10~15 years to do astrometry of 1000 masers
Future Extension: VLBI in East Asia • Japanese stations VERA, Hokkaido, Gifu, Yamaguchi, Kashima, Usuda, Tsukuba etc. • KoreaKVN: 20m x 3 (to be completed in 2007) • China Shanghai, Urumqi (+ VSOP-2) will provide better sensitivity and better image Science : Galactic structures and AGNs
VERA array 4 x 20m radio telescopes Completed in 2002 Iriki Mizusawa Ishigaki Ogasawara Max baseline : 2300 km
VERA telescope : dual-beam antenna Target source Target source reference atmosphere atmosphere Normal VLBI station VERA station Dual-beam antenna : 2 receivers at focal plane Simultaneous observations of two adjacent sources can cancel out atmospheric fluctuation target accuracy : 10 micro-arcsec ! Schematic view of normal VLBI station and VERA station
Dual-beam receiving system Dual-beam platform (Max. beam separation : 2.2 deg) dual-beam receivers (22GHz & 43GHz band receives)
Astrometry of the Milky Way with VERA Parallax measurement target accuracy : 10 micro-arcsec ! VERA enables us to do astrometry of the Whole Milky Way Galaxy (c.f. GAIA, SIM)
High-precision Astrometric Missions Near-future projects for 10 micro-arcsec astrometry
Target source : masers Maser from outflow in SFR H2O maser (22GHz) SiO masers (43GHz) Star Forming Regions (H2O) AGB stars (H2O, SiO) distribution of H2O maser sources Maser from TX Cam
Fundamentals of the Galaxy Distance to the Sgr A* R0 Galactic Rotation velocity at the Sun θ0 Local disk density, local dark matter Structure of bulge and spiral arms Rotation curve → dark matter : where & how much ? Face-on view of Galactic maser distribution
AstrometricMicrolensing What’s Astrometric microlensing ? microlensing events detected through image position change Why Astrometric Microlensing ? 1) Large Lens size (high probability) 2) Independent observables from photometric events 3) Existence of high-precision missions in near future New tool to study dark object Example of image position change in astrometric microlensing
Period Luminosity Relation of Mira • Another standard cosmic candle ? • Better understanding of stellar physics PL relation of Mira (Feast et al 1989) PL relation for AGBs (Wood 2000)
High Energy Objects Natural laboratory of High Energy Physics X-ray binaries star + compact objects (WD, NS, BH ?) measurement of distance and orbital motion →mass, energy scale, nature of compact object GRO 1655-40 with VLBA
Gamma-ray burst Gamma-ray burst origin : Super Nova relativistic jet (→super-luminal motion expected) GRB030329 detected with VERA
VERA Ishigaki-jima station Radio telescope in sub-tropical island
General Relativity test • Gravitational Deflection of Light by the Sun Θ=(1+γ) / 2 (4GM / c2b) 1.75 arcsec for General Relativity Current value : γ= 1.000+/-0.001 from VLBI astrometry (with accuracy of 1 mas) Expected improvement by order of 2 (accuracy 1 mas to 10 micro-as)
運動学的距離決定 メーザーの固有運動と視線速度を利用 10000 AU 3000 AU W49N : D = 11.5 +/- 1.5 kpc Gwinn et al. (1992) OH 43.8-0.1 with VERA D = 2.8 +/- 0.5 kpc Honma et al. (2005) Vflow ~ 200 km/s Vflow ~ 8 km/s
2 mas W49N - OH43.8-0.1 pair W49N Milky Way in summer OH43