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CASPER: Concordia Atmospheric SPectroscopy of Emitted Radiation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2006
Abstract
CASPER (Concordia Atmospheric SPectroscopy of Emitted Radiation) is a spectrometer proposed for installation at Dome C, devoted to measurements of atmospheric emission in the spectral region between 180 μm and 3 mm (3–55 cm-1). This instrument will be able to perform continuous spectral sampling at different altitudes at angular scales of ~1°. From the recorded data it is possible to extract atmospheric transmittance within 1% in the whole wide operating band, together with water vapour content and O2 and O3 concentrations. CASPER will allow us to characterize the site for future FIR/mm telescopes. Atmospheric data recorded by CASPER will allow for correction of astrophysical and cosmological observations without the need for telescope-specific procedures and further loss of observation time with more precision in the observations themselves. Calibration of ground-based telescopes on known sky sources is strongly affected by atmospheric absorption. CASPER has this as its primary goal. The spectrometer is based on a Martin-Puplett interferometer. Two data sampling solutions will be performed: phase modulation & fast scan strategy. Sky radiation is collected towards the interferometer by an optical setup that allows the field of view, to explore the full 0° ÷ 90° range of elevation angles. With a low spurious polarization instrument, monitoring of polarized atmospheric contribution will be possible.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- European Astronomical Society Publications Series , Volume 14: Dome C Astronomy and Astrophysics Meeting , 2005 , pp. 233 - 238
- Copyright
- © EAS, EDP Sciences, 2005
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