Recent Astronomical Results Obtained with the AFGL Ten Micron Array Spectrometer
Abstract
The detector array used is the 58x62 Si:Ga with the switched-MOSFET readout. Support electronics include the clocked address circuitry, 12 bit AD conversion boards for each of the two output lines, and 20 bit RAM coaddition blocks for both telescope chop positions. In operation, the data are coadded over several chops, differences are taken between the two chop positions, and these differences are subsequently output to a PDP 11/34 minicomputer. The mosaic array was characterized for high speed operation (5 msec frame periodicity) and linearity in a test bed dewar, and found for proper bias voltages to be sufficiently fast to permit the signal electron rate from sky and telescope backgrounds. The optics are a NaC1 prism slit spectrometer for operation in the 8 to 14 micron region. The ratio of collimator and camera focal lengths is 3.6, resulting in arcsec pixel sizes for the Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO) 2.3 meter telescope. We report here on the recent observing run at WIRO, the second for the Array Spectrometer. The latest observing run resulted successfully in measurements of IRC + 10216 with the mosaic array in full scanning operation. Results include spectral and spatial scans for IRC + 10216 and evaluations of instrumental performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 27, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA198887
Entities
People
- Paul D. Levan
- Peter C. Tandy
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory