Capabilities of the AFGL Mosaic Array Spectrometer-Ten-Micron Spectra of Bright Infrared Stars
Abstract
A 9- to 14 micron slit spectrometer employing a novel mosaic array of 58 x 62 detectors is described. The spectrometer has been used on the University of Wyoming 2.3-m telescope with a 0.9 per pixel (reimaged) plate scale to obtain spectra of long-period variable stars. The instrumental spectral resolution and spatial point-spread are characterized function using spectra and spatial profiles extracted from spectral images of the variable stars. To evaluate the effectiveness of the data-acquisition and reduction procedures, spectra are compared with examples found in the Atlas of IRAS Low Resolution Spectra. The comparisons are made for single representatives of each of three diverse object classes-oxygen-rich stars with strong silicate feature emission, carbon-rich stars with silicon carbide emission, and late-type stars exhibiting photospheric continuum radiation. (1) the IRAS and array spectrometer spectra are in qualitative agreement if accounts is taken of the extension of the silicate feature flux to wavelengths shortward of the 9 micron cut-on wavelength of our instrument. (3) The width of the spatial point-spread function is nearly as good as the design goal. (4) The formal uncertainties of our data points are high even when the relatively low responsivity of the mosaic array is considered and are suggestive of system noise limited performance. Reprints.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA227546
Entities
People
- Paul D. Levan
Organizations
- Air Force Systems Command