Grating Spectral Resolution



next up previous contents index
Next: Grating Spectral Response Up: Grating Sections Previous: Grating Sections

Grating Spectral Resolution

 

Test measurements confirm that the spectral resolution of the instrument is limited by its spatial resolution : a or slit, broadened by the diffraction of a 60 cm telescope. The measured spectral resolution of extended sources confirms the expected resolution.

Fig. gif shows Gaussian fits to laser lines, one measured in the SW (2.38-12 m) section, one measured in the LW (12-45.2 m) section. Down to an approximate 5% level of the peak, SWS grating spectral profiles  are found to correspond closely to a Gaussian. However, below this 5% level, the profiles are observed to become asymmetric and to vary with wavelength. Beyond this, at a certain fixed wavelength, the profiles below the 5% level are found to be different for different detector elements.

Fig. gif shows the FWHM of the spectral resolution of the SW and LW sections of the instrument vs. wavelength.



SWS Consortium
Tue Jul 30 15:56:20 MET DST 1996