Automated Spectrophotometry

Extract

Starting from a digitized and calibrated stellar spectrum—what can we most usefully do with it?

Traditionally a spectrum consists of two parts, a continuum and some lines. These have been variously defined in the past, so perhaps another definition may be allowed. Over large ranges the two components can be distinguished quite sharply in the spatial frequency plane. The continuum contains only low frequencies, whereas in the line the information is contained in the high frequencies. In the word “continuum” is included the instrumental absorption functions, emulsion sensitivity, wide interstellar and atmospheric bands, and even the wide wings of very strong lines. From the word “lines”, on the other hand, the strongest lines are excluded; these may contain intermediate spatial frequencies in their core regions. They are relatively infrequent and so may be treated as special cases.