1,652 research outputs found
Stellar populations -- the next ten years
The study of stellar populations is a discipline that is highly dependent on
both imaging and spectroscopy. I discuss techniques in different regimes of
resolving power: broadband imaging (R~4), intermediate band imaging (R~16, 64),
narrowband spectral imaging (R~256, 1024, 4096). In recent years, we have seen
major advances in broadband all-sky surveys that are set to continue across
optical and IR bands, with the added benefit of the time domain, higher
sensitivity, and improved photometric accuracy. Tunable filters and integral
field spectrographs are poised to make further inroads into intermediate and
narrowband imaging studies of stellar populations. Further advances will come
from AO-assisted imaging and imaging spectroscopy, although photometric
accuracy will be challenging. Integral field spectroscopy will continue to have
a major impact on future stellar population studies, extending into the near
infrared once the OH suppression problem is finally resolved. A sky rendered
dark will allow a host of new ideas to be explored, and old ideas to be
revisited.Comment: Invited review, IAUS 241, "Stellar Populations as Building Blocks of
Galaxies," eds. Vazdekis, Peletier. 12 pages, 1 table. (The sideways table
should print ok; there are 10 columns.
TTF: a flexible approach to narrowband imaging
The Taurus Tunable Filter (TTF) is a tunable narrowband interference filter
covering wavelengths from 6300 A to the sensitivity drop-off of conventional
CCDs (9600 A), although a blue `arm' (3700-6500 A) is to be added by the end of
1997. The TTF offers monochromatic imaging at the cassegrain foci of both the
Anglo-Australian and William Herschel Telescopes, with an adjustable passband
of between 6 and 60 A. In addition, frequency switching with the TTF can be
synchronized to movement of charge (charge shuffling) on the CCD which has many
important applications in astrophysics. Here we review different modes of TTF.
We maintain a web site at http://msowww.anu.edu.au/~dhj/ttf.html describing all
aspects of TTF and its operation. In addition to general use, the instrument is
available in AAT service time. Details can be found at
http://www.aao.gov.au/local/www/jmc/service/service.html.Comment: 8 pages; Latex; 5 encapsulated postscript figures. Invited talk at
the "AAO/UKST Galactic Plane H-alpha Survey", International Workshop, Sydney,
Australi
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