High resolution Michelson interferometer for airborne infrared astronomical observations. 1: Concept and performance.
A Michelson interferometer has been built for use with the 91-cm telescope on NASA's Gerard P. Kuiper Airborne Observatory primarily to measure ir line emission from H 11 regions. Operation is in the rapid scan mode, and the achievable resolution is 0.02 cm(-1) in the wavelength range from 10 micro to around 300 micro. A minicomputer is used to provide on-line spectrum displays and to control and monitor the instrument performance. The design and use of the instrument is discussed, and a comparison is made between the theoretical performance and that actually achieved on the first flights when measurements of line emission from the Orion nebula and from the atmosphere were made.
Baluteau
J P
JP
Anderegg
M
M
Moorwood
A F
AF
Coron
N
N
Beckman
J E
JE
Bussoletti
E
E
Hippelein
H H
HH