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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13068 |
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| _version_ | 1866915738370965504 |
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| author | Lin, Pu Yang, Haonan Ma, Bin Li, Jinji Zhang, Haoran Ashley, Michael C. B. Dong, Zhong-Nan Feng, Lu Huang, Wei Hu, Yi Shang, Zhaohui Shi, Yun Sun, Shijie Yang, Xu Zhang, Yong |
| author_facet | Lin, Pu Yang, Haonan Ma, Bin Li, Jinji Zhang, Haoran Ashley, Michael C. B. Dong, Zhong-Nan Feng, Lu Huang, Wei Hu, Yi Shang, Zhaohui Shi, Yun Sun, Shijie Yang, Xu Zhang, Yong |
| contents | Ground-based observations around 1.4 $μ$m are normally limited by strong absorption of telluric water-vapor. However, Dome A, Antarctica has exceptionally dry conditions that offer a unique opportunity for observations in this band. We designed a new filter covering 1.34--1.48 $μ$m, namely $W'$, and installed it on the Antarctic Infrared Binocular Telescope (AIRBT) at Dome A in 2025. AIRBT comprises two identical 15 cm optical tube assemblies and two InGaAs cameras equipped with $J$ and $W'$ filters, respectively. With this Early Data Release (EDR), we aim to evaluate the performance of the $W'$ band at Dome A to observe objects with water-vapor features. This EDR covers $\thicksim 20 \ \mathrm{deg^2}$ in the Galactic plane using $\thicksim 20,000$ images in three nights. For 2 s exposures, the 5 $σ$ limiting magnitude histogram peaks at $J \thicksim 11.5$ mag (Vega) and $W' \thicksim 9.9$ mag, respectively. The $J-W'$ vs $J-H$ color-color diagram distinguishes ultracool candidates with water-vapor-absorption features from reddened early type stars. Furthermore, later-type stars tend to exhibit stronger water-vapor absorption. Some sources show larger $ΔW'$ than $ΔJ$ across the three nights, which we attribute to variations of their water-vapor-absorption depth. We conclude that it will be efficient to search for ultracool stars and estimate their spectral subtypes using $W'$ band imaging at Dome A, where the atmospheric transmission is high and stable. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_13068 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Antarctic Infrared Binocular Telescope: Early Data Release of observations in the 1.4 μm water-vapor-absorption band Lin, Pu Yang, Haonan Ma, Bin Li, Jinji Zhang, Haoran Ashley, Michael C. B. Dong, Zhong-Nan Feng, Lu Huang, Wei Hu, Yi Shang, Zhaohui Shi, Yun Sun, Shijie Yang, Xu Zhang, Yong Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics Astrophysics of Galaxies Solar and Stellar Astrophysics Ground-based observations around 1.4 $μ$m are normally limited by strong absorption of telluric water-vapor. However, Dome A, Antarctica has exceptionally dry conditions that offer a unique opportunity for observations in this band. We designed a new filter covering 1.34--1.48 $μ$m, namely $W'$, and installed it on the Antarctic Infrared Binocular Telescope (AIRBT) at Dome A in 2025. AIRBT comprises two identical 15 cm optical tube assemblies and two InGaAs cameras equipped with $J$ and $W'$ filters, respectively. With this Early Data Release (EDR), we aim to evaluate the performance of the $W'$ band at Dome A to observe objects with water-vapor features. This EDR covers $\thicksim 20 \ \mathrm{deg^2}$ in the Galactic plane using $\thicksim 20,000$ images in three nights. For 2 s exposures, the 5 $σ$ limiting magnitude histogram peaks at $J \thicksim 11.5$ mag (Vega) and $W' \thicksim 9.9$ mag, respectively. The $J-W'$ vs $J-H$ color-color diagram distinguishes ultracool candidates with water-vapor-absorption features from reddened early type stars. Furthermore, later-type stars tend to exhibit stronger water-vapor absorption. Some sources show larger $ΔW'$ than $ΔJ$ across the three nights, which we attribute to variations of their water-vapor-absorption depth. We conclude that it will be efficient to search for ultracool stars and estimate their spectral subtypes using $W'$ band imaging at Dome A, where the atmospheric transmission is high and stable. |
| title | Antarctic Infrared Binocular Telescope: Early Data Release of observations in the 1.4 μm water-vapor-absorption band |
| topic | Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics Astrophysics of Galaxies Solar and Stellar Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13068 |