Studies of H Ly-α emissions in the solar neighborhood with the techniques of polarimetry and spatial hetrodyne spectroscopy (SHS)

Walter M. Harris, Fred L. Roesler, Kenneth H. Nordsieck, Lotti Ben-Jaffel, Jason Corliss

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ultraviolet astronomy is an important tool for the study of the interplanetary medium and diffuse, angularly extended emissions in planetary/comet atmospheres and their near space environments. We describe a new technique for high étendue observations of emission lines at R > 105 within all-reflective spatial heterodyne spectrometer and polarmetric sampling of these lines with an ultraviolet optimized waveplate-Brewster mirror combination. The resulting system is thermo-mechanically stable, has light collecting power substantially greater than HST for extended emissions, despite having a volume of several × 10-3 m3. This makes the SHS polarimeter ideal for spacecraft applications. We describe the SHS and polarmetric optical techniques and provide a discussion of its planned development for studies of interplanetary hydrogen.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)676-685
Number of pages10
JournalProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume4854
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
EventFuture EUV/UV and Visible Space Astrophysics Missions and Instrumentation - Waikoloa, HI, United States
Duration: Aug 22 2002Aug 23 2002

Keywords

  • Interferometry
  • Polarimetry
  • Spectroscopy
  • Ultraviolet

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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