Evaluation of payload performance for a sounding rocket vacuum ultraviolet spatial heterodyne spectrometer to observe C IV lambdalambda1550 emissions from the Cygnus Loop.
The results of a project to develop a spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) for a sounding rocket mission to study the Cygnus Loop, a prototypical middle-aged supernova remnant, are discussed. The goal was to obtain a radial velocity-resolved spectrum of the C IV lambdalambda1550 emission line from bright features of the Cygnus Loop, as a test for mapping the diffuse hot interstellar medium (ISM). A full Fourier-transform analysis of Cygnus Loop emission data is presented, showing lack of velocity-resolved C IV emission detection. Optics contamination is shown to be the most likely problem, and ways to eliminate this contamination for future SHS sounding rocket and satellite missions are discussed.
Watchorn
Steven
S
Scientific Solutions, Inc., 55 Middlesex Street, Unit 210, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01863, USA. steve@sci-sol.com
Roesler
Fred L
FL
Harlander
John
J
Jaehnig
Kurt P
KP
Reynolds
Ronald J
RJ
Sanders
Wilton T
WT