Astronomical Spectroscopy

“Methods of Experimental Physics, Vol. 12-Part A

Optical and Infrared”, p.463.

Elements
Resolution
Grating Equation
Designs

1
 Schematic Spectrograph

Camera
Collimator Detector (CCD)

Slit

Converging light
Disperser
from telescope
(prism or
grating)

2
 Slit Spectrographs
• Entrance Aperture: A slit,
usually smaller than that
of the seeing disk
• Collimator: converts a
diverging beam to a
parallel beam
• Dispersing Element:
sends light of different
colors into different
directions
• Camera: converts a
parallel beam into a
converging beam
• Detector: CCD, IR array,
photographic plate, etc.
3
Why use a slit?

1) A slit fixes the resolution, so that it does

not depend on the seeing.
2) A slit helps to exclude other objects in
the field of view
A spectrograph should be
designed so that the slit
width is approximately
the same as the average
seeing. Otherwise you
will lose a lot of light.

4
Design Considerations: Resolution vs Throughput

Without the disperser, the spectrograph optics

would simply reimage the slit on the detector.

With the disperser, monochromatic light passing

through the spectrograph would result in a single
slit image on the detector; its position on the detector
is determined by the wavelength of the light.

This implies a spectrum is made up of overlapping

images of the slit. A wide slit lets in a lot of light,
but results in poor resolution. A narrow slit lets in
limited light, but results in better resolution.
5
Design Considerations: Projected slit width

f2 f3
Collimator focal length Camera focal length

Let s = slit width, p = projected slit width (width of slit on detector).

Then, to first order:
 f3 
p   s
 f2 
Optimally, p should have a width equal to two pixels on the detector.
Resolution element Δλ = wavelength span associated with p.

6
Design Considerations: Spectral Resolution vs. Spectral Range


R 


7
Dispersers

Prisms: disperse light into a spectrum

because the index of refraction is a
function of the wavelength. Usually:
n(blue) > n(red).

Diffraction gratings: work through

the interference of light. Most modern
spectrographs use diffraction gratings.
Most astronomical spectrographs use
reflection gratings instead of transmission
gratings.

A combination of the two is called a

Grism.
8
 Diffraction Gratings

Diffraction gratings are made up of very narrow grooves which

have widths comparable to a wavelength of light. For instance,
a 1200g/mm grating has spacings in which the groove width is
about 833nm. The wavelength of red light is about 650nm.
Light reflecting off these grooves will interfere. This leads
to dispersion. 9
 The Grating Equation

Light reflecting from grooves A and

B will interfere constructively if the
difference in path length is an
integer number of wavelengths.

The path length difference will

be a + b, where a = d sinα and
b = d sinβ. Thus, the two
reflected rays will interfere d
constructively if:

m   d (s in   s in  )

10
 m   d (s in   s in  )

Meaning: Let m = 1. If a ray of light of wavelength λ strikes

a grating of groove spacing d at an angle α with the grating
Normal, it will be diffracted at an angle β from the grating.

If m, d and α are kept constant, λ is clearly a function of β.

Thus, we have dispersion.

11
 m   d (s in   s in  )

m is called the order of the spectrum. Thus, diffraction gratings

produce multiple spectra. If m = 0, we have the zeroth order,
undispersed image of the slit. If m = 1, we have two first order
spectra on either side of the m = 0 image, etc.

Diffraction grating
illustrated is a
transmission grating.

These orders will overlap, which produces problems for grating

spectrographs. 12
 Dispersion & Resolution

Dispersion is the degree to which the spectrum is spread out.

To get high resolution, it is really necessary to use a diffraction
grating that has high dispersion. Dispersion (dβ/dλ) is given by:
d m

d d cos

f3 d
R  
p d
Thus, to get high resolution, three strategies are possible:
long camera focal length (f3), high order (m), or small
grating spacing (d). The last has some limitations. The
first two lead to the two basic designs for high-resolution
spectrographs: coudé (long f3) and echelle (high m).
13
Three basic optical designs for spectrographs

Littrow (not commonly used in

astronomy).

Ebert: used in astronomy, but

p = s. Note camera = collimator.

Czerny-Turner: most versatile

design. Most commonly used
in astronomy.

14
1.A solid, liquid, or dense gas excited to emit light will radiate at
all wavelengths and thus produce a continuous spectrum.
2. A low-density gas excited to emit light will do so at specific
wavelengths and this produces an emission spectrum. (See also:
emission spectrum)
3. If light composing a continuous spectrum passes through a
cool, low-density gas, the result will be an absorption spectrum.