1st Edition

Optical Astronomical Spectroscopy

By C.R. Kitchin Copyright 1995
    288 Pages
    by CRC Press

    288 Pages
    by CRC Press

    A concise introduction, Optical Astronomical Spectroscopy appeals to the newcomer of astronomical spectroscopy and assumes no previous specialist knowledge. Beginning from the physical background of spectroscopy with a clear explanation of energy levels and spectroscopic notation, the book proceeds to introduce the main techniques of optical spectroscopy and the range of instrumentation that is available. With clarity and directness, it then describes the applications of spectroscopy in modern astronomy, such as the solar system, stars, nebulae, the interstellar medium, and galaxies, giving an immediate appeal to beginners.

    Preface
    Atomic Processes

    INTRODUCTION TO SPECTROSCOPY
    Historical background
    Types of spectroscopy

    THE PHYSICS OF ATOMS AND MOLECULES
    Sommerfeld's refinements
    Space quantization
    Atomic structure
    Other viewpoints
    Quantum/wave mechanics

    ATOMIC ENERGY LEVELS
    Multiple electron atoms
    ^IL-S coupling
    Space quantization
    Term formation
    Closed shells and subshells
    Notation
    Hyperfine structure

    TRANSITIONS
    Basics
    Selection rules
    Transition probabilities
    Absorption and emission coefficients
    Ionization and recombination
    X-ray spectra

    SPECTRA OF MOLECULES
    Introduction
    Rotational transitions
    Vibrational transitions
    Electronic transitions

    RADIATION IN THE PRESENCE OF FIELDS
    Zeeman effect
    Stark effect
    Free-free radiation
    Synchrotron and gyrosynchrotron radiation
    Cerenkov radiation
    The Faraday effect

    SPECTROSCOPY OF SOLID MATERIALS

    ASTRONOMICAL SPECTROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES

    OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPES
    Introduction
    Diffraction gratings
    Grating problems
    Diffraction grating spectroscopes
    Prisms
    Prism spectroscopes
    Fourier transform spectroscope (Michelson interferometer)
    Fabry-P^D'erot etalons

    SPECIALIZED OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES FOR ASTRONOMY
    Introduction
    Detectors
    Guiding
    Widening
    Image dissectors
    Dekkers
    Long slit spectroscopy
    Comparison spectra
    Flexure
    Temperature
    Exposures

    EXAMPLES OF OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPES
    Introduction
    A small basic spectroscope
    A conventional Cassegrain spectroscope
    Transmission grating spectroscopes
    Coud^D'e spectroscopes
    A GRISM-based spectroscope
    Multi-object spectroscopes
    An echelle grating spectroscope
    Infrared spectroscopes
    Spacecraft-borne spectroscopes
    Fabry-P^D'erot spectroscopes
    Fourier transform spectroscopes
    Objective prism spectroscopes
    The future
    Spectroscopy of astronomical sources

    SPECTRAL CLASSIFICATION
    Spectral class
    The non-core classes
    The luminosity class

    RADIAL VELOCITIES
    Introduction
    Traditional approach to radial velocity determination
    Objective prism spectra
    Machine-readable spectra
    Griffin's method
    Line identification

    SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
    Introduction
    Spectral calibration
    Photometric calibration
    Line strengths
    Line broadening
    Pressure broadening
    Doppler broadening
    Magnetic fields
    Other effects

    STARS
    Introduction
    Distance
    Temperature
    Element abundances
    Variable stars
    The Sun

    PLANETS AND OTHER MINOR BODIES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
    Introduction
    Planetary atmospheres and comets
    Planetary surfaces
    Rotation

    NEBULAE AND THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM
    Nebulae
    The interstellar medium

    EXTRA-GALACTIC OBJECTS
    Introduction
    Distances
    Spectra
    Ages
    Sizes
    Background radiation

    APPENDICES
    Conversion formulae
    Term formation of equivalent electrons

    Bibliography
    Constants
    Index

    Biography

    C.R. Kitchin

    "…well worth adding to one's astronomical library … would recommend it to others with little hesitation."
    - Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada