A complete system for the detection and recording of astronomical spectra has been constructed using an image isocon (E.E.V. P850) television tube as detector. The detector will accomodate two spectra 80 millimeters in length and has the spectral response of an S-20 photocathode. Recording is onto IBM-compatible magnetic tape via an on-line computer. The user is also provided with a real time display of the spectra on an oscilloscope via the computer. A description of the video signal circuits is given. Schematic diagrams of the control unit constructed by the author and the modified camera are shown. A method of determining the modulation transfer function of the detector, based on the Fourier analysis of the signal output for a known signal input, is described. The MTF as a function of light level, exposure time, and target temperature is investigated. It can be seen that the best MTF for a particular exposure time occurs at the lowest target temperature. The MTF far exceeds that predicted as the maximum by direct application of the analysis of Krittman (1962). It is assumed that the Krittman analysis can not be applied to the P850 image isocon with its large target mesh-to-target spacing and thin target. / Science, Faculty of / Physics and Astronomy, Department of / Graduate

This dissertation investigates the properties of the metal-containing absorption lines seen in quasar spectra which have Z(abs) < < Z(em). These systems, which probably originate in the halos of galaxies at high redshift, are then compared to observations of the halo and interstellar medium of the Milky Way. We obtained echelle spectra at the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) of the Z = 1.79 absorption system of the quasar B2 1225+317. The velocity profiles showed complex structure which varied from ion to ion, with ionization and column densities varying from component to component. The relative colums were consistent with the expectations for approximately interstellar abundance, low density material, in equilibrium with the ultraviolet radiation field of a spiral galaxy for λ > 912 A, and the integrated light from QSOs at Z = 1.79 for λ < 912 A. The aggregate C IV profile has a width of about 450 km/sec, larger than that expected for a single galaxy halo, however. With the MMT spectrograph and echellette grating, and MMT echelle, we studied the properties of three other redshift systems of B2 1225+317, which are optically thin at the Lyman limit, but have saturated Lyman alpha, and unlike material in the Milky Way, have strong C IV and no detectable C II. In some cases Si III and Si IV are weakly detected. Constructing photoionization models, we derive low total densities, cloud diameters on the order of a few kiloparsecs, and abundances which are consistent with the interstellar values. We calculated the contribution of quasars to the UV radiation field as a function of redshift. The calculated field depends on a number of uncertain assumptions, which were varied in order to estimate their effect on the result. Finally, we discuss an important input into these calculations, the continuum spectral energy distribution for quasars, with particular attention to the extreme ultraviolet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Not available / text

published_or_final_version / Physics / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

No description available.

The Santa Barbara Instrument Group self-guided spectrograph is aimed primarily at the advanced amateur astronomer. This study has determined that this instrument is capable of being used for scientific research. A comparison lamp box was built to be used in conjunction with the spectrograph. A test was conducted to determine the accuracy of the grating positioning micrometer. A chart was created to allow the conversion of the micrometer readings to correlate with the position of the low-dispersion grating. To determine the scientific applicability of the spectrograph, it was used to: (1) measure the expansion rate of Nova Sagittarius 2004, (2) look for a 13.9-minute periodicity in the width and position of the H-alpha line of the binary star system X Persei, and (3) to measure the Doppler shift of X Persei. The instrument proved to be capable of being used to determine radial velocities and Doppler shifts. / Department of Physics and Astronomy

The work reported in this thesis describes the development of the CCD instrumentation for the Faint Object Spectrograph on the 2.5m Isaac Newton Telescope at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, more commonly known as the La Palma Observatory. The Faint Object Spectrograph is a highly efficient, fixed-format CCD spectrograph aimed at low resolution spectrophotometry (15-20 A FWHM) over a wide spectral range (400-1050 nm). Its high throughput, compared with that of more conventional spectrographs, is due to the small number of optical surfaces, and the minimum vignetting which results from, locating the CCD inside the spectrograph camera. A CCD camera system is described which was developed primarily to test and commission the Faint Object Spectrograph, but also to assess the characteristics of the GEC P8603 CCD used In the spectrograph, and optimize its performance for this application. The use of CCDs in astronomy is now commonplace but there still remains some uncertainty as to which aspects of their performance need to be most critically assessed when choosing a device for a particular application. It is argued that it is important to consider not only the obvious characteristics such as quantum efficiency, spectral coverage, readout noise and geometrical format, but also, and particularly at astronomically relevant low-light levels, the consequences of the more subtle properties such as charge transfer efficiency, threshold effects and chip defects. The CCD detector in the Faint Object Spectrograph is located inside the spectrograph camera and needs to be positioned to high accuracy within the optical path. A microprocessor system is described which enables the CCD detector to be aligned remotely from the observer's control console. Finally, the commissioning of the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Isaac Newton Telescope is described, and some of the first results obtained during commissioning are presented in order to illustrate its potential in the field of faint object spectroscopy.

No description available.