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Photoelectric astrometry

Photoelectric astrometry to determine stellar position, noting application to binary stars

Fredrick, L. W.

Photoelectric line profiles in umbral spectra.

Umbral line profiles of H-alpha, NaD2 and HeI 10830 have been observed photoelectrically with a pressure scanning spectrometer. The H-alpha line profile shows, in a medium-sized spot, a pronounced weakening in the wings but a persistence of the line core in agreement with the results of Fricke and Elsaesser (1965). The profile of the HeI 10830 line shows an unexpected strengthening over the umbra of the two spots which have been observed. The NaD2 line profile together with continuum observations at 4260, 5890, and 6530 A have been accounted for with an empirical (T, tau) relation by one of us (Yun, 1971). The wavelength dependence and the absolute values from 4000 to 14,000 A of the intensity curve generated by this relation shows very good agreement with the intensities observed by Woehl et al. (1970) in a spot of similar diameter.

Fay, T. D.

A photoelectric study of Messier 81.

Results of photoelectric observations in B and V made at over 1200 locations in Messier 81, covering an area of approximately 169 square minutes of arc and including the galaxy's nucleus. Isophote maps in V and B based on these observations have been drawn. Two independent fits on the resulting V and B luminosity distributions yield average integrated magnitudes of V equals 6.94 and B equals 7.89. B - V and (integrated B) - (integrated V) are given as functions of distance from the center of the galaxy along the semimajor axis. A mass model is derived using a rotation curve based on the velocities measured by Muench (1959). The total mass of M81 is found to be 1.62 x 10 to the 11th solar masses. The final apparent mass-to-luminosity ratios in V and B are 11.2 and 15.1, respectively.

Brandt, J. C.

Optimum detection of an optical image on a photoelectric surface

The detection of an optical image in the presence of uniform background light is based on a likelihood ratio formed of the numbers of photoelectrons emitted from small elements of a photoelectric surface onto which the image is focused. When diffraction is negligible and the surface has unit quantum efficiency, this detector is equipollent with the optimum detector of the image forming light. Its performance is compared with that of the threshold detector and that of a detector basing its decisions on the total number of photoelectrons from a finite area of the image. The illuminance of the image is postulated to have a Gaussian spatial distribution. All three detectors exhibit nearly the same reliability.

Helstrom, C. W.

High resolution obtained by photoelectric scanning techniques.

Several applications of linear scanning of different types of objects are described; examples include double stars, satellites, the Red Spot of Jupiter and a landing site on the moon. This technique allows one to achieve a gain of about an order of magnitude in resolution over conventional photoelectric techniques; it is also effective in providing sufficient data for removing background effects and for the application of deconvolution procedures. Brief consideration is given to two-dimensional scanning, either at the telescope or of electronographic images in the laboratory. It is suggested that some of the techniques described should be given serious consideration for space applications.

Hall, J. S.

Multicolor photoelectric photometry of Neptune.

Mean opposition magnitudes at unit distance and geometric albedos obtained as functions of wavelength from multicolor photoelectric photometry observations of Neptune performed in southern France and South Africa are presented. The measurements were made in the standard UBV bands and in seven narrow bands isolated by interference filters between 0.314 and 0.627 microns.

Appleby, J. F.

A portable millisecond-integration-time photoelectric photometer.

Portable equipment for recording millisecond-integration-time photoelectric photometric data is described. Digital data are reliably recorded on standard 6.35 mm audio grade magnetic tape via a quadradial audio grade tape deck. The system is designed specifically for recording lunar occulations of stars, but the data recording technique is independent of the data source. Recovery of the data is made via minicomputer.

Mcgraw, J. T.

Optimum detection of an optical image on a photoelectric surface.

The image-detecting performance of an optimum counting detector is compared with that of a threshold detector and that of a detector basing its decisions on the total number of photoelectrons from a finite area of the image. The illuminance of the image is assumed to have a Gaussian spatial distribution. The optimum detector works with the pristine datum (and not with the photoelectric response) which is the spatiotemporal electromagnetic field at the aperture of the observing optical instrument. It is shown that little is to be gained by using details of the illuminance distribution beyond the crude knowledge of its breadth as embodied in a simple counter of emitted photoelectrons. All three detectors exhibit accordingly about the same reliability.

Helstrom, C. W.

Photoelectric spectrophotometry of Wolf-Rayet stars

Photoelectric spectrum scans of five southern Wolf-Rayet stars in the spectral range lambda lambda 4600-4720 were analyzed to study the variability of brightness and of emission line strengths. No variations of any kind in short time scale were found. However, in WC stars night-to-night variations of three to four percent were detected in the emission line strengths.

Bahng, J. D. R.

Development of a spectroscopic photoelectric imaging Fabry-Perot interferometer preliminary observational results

In order to observe extended astronomical objects at high spatial and spectral resolution, a spectroscopic photoelectric imaging Fabry-Perot interferometer was constructed. Among the properties chosen for the instrument are an air-spaced, piezoelectrically scanned design allowing an accurately settable free spectral range and employing a single etalon of high finesse. Careful design of the etalon mountings and optical train preserves high ligh throughput. Spectra of single spatial elements with a photomultiplier were obtained, and an SEC vidicon detector was used to record a series of images through the interferometer while scanning the wavelength in discrete steps. The latter procedure yields sufficient information to reconstruct spectral features over the entire object, and for the conditions assumed, either series of observations requires only a small fraction of a rotational period for Jupiter or Saturn. An electronic control system was also constructed which permits rapid and flexible variation of the operational mode of the Fabry-Perot and its ancilliary devices so as to minimize loss of observational time.

Smith, W. H.