Spectral Mapping Reconstruction of Extended Sources

Three dimensional spectroscopy of extended sources is typically performed with dedicated integral field spectrographs. We describe a method of reconstructing full spectral cubes, with two spatial and one spectral dimension, from rastered spectral mapping observations employing a single slit in a traditional slit spectrograph. When the background and image characteristics are stable, as is often achieved in space, the use of traditional long slits for integral field spectroscopy can substantially reduce instrument complexity over dedicated integral field designs, without loss of mapping efficiency -- particularly compelling when a long slit mode for single unresolved source followup is separately required. We detail a custom flux-conserving cube reconstruction algorithm, discuss issues of extended source flux calibration, and describe CUBISM, a tool which implements these methods for spectral maps obtained with ther Spitzer Space Telescope's Infrared Spectrograph.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, accepted by PAS

SB9: The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits

The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits (http://sb9.astro.ulb.ac.be) continues the series of compilations of spectroscopic orbits carried out over the past 35 years by Batten and collaborators. As of 2004 May 1st, the new Catalogue holds orbits for 2,386 systems. Some essential differences between this catalogue and its predecessors are outlined and three straightforward applications are presented: (1) Completeness assessment: period distribution of SB1s and SB2s; (2) Shortest periods across the H-R diagram; (3) Period-eccentricity relation.Comment: Accepte for publication in A&A, 6 pages, 6 figure

HD 80606 b, a planet on an extremely elongated orbit

We report the detection of a planetary companion orbiting the solar-type star HD 80606, the brighter component of a wide binary with a projected separation of about 2000 AU. Using high-signal spectroscopic observations of the two components of the visual binary, we show that they are nearly identical. The planet has an orbital period of 111.8 days and a minimum mass of 3.9 M_Jup. With e=0.927, this planet has the highest orbital eccentricity among the extrasolar planets detected so far. We finally list several processes this extreme eccentricity could result from.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure included, submitted to A&A, final versio

Culture and Inter-group Relations Theory as a Pathway to Improve Decision Making

The U.S. military frequently participates in coalitions involving foreign military organizations as well as domestic and foreign civilian groups, such as governmental organizations, private volunteer organizations, and special interest groups. Due to the wide cultural and organizational diversity of the participant groups, coalition operations pose significant challenges to the U.S. military. A macroergonomics perspective is used in this paper to evaluate how cultural factors and group process variables influence the effectiveness of coalition operations. To better understand how cultural and group process factors influence coalition operations, researchers reviewed doctrine, military analyses, workshop reports, and case studies of numerous coalition operations. Four principal inter-group factors were identified that are critical to the effectiveness of coalition missions: planning, coordination, communication, and training. These four factors were then evaluated in terms of the cultural dimensions and group process variables that influence them. 1 This work is sponsored by Dr. Mike Letsky, Office of Naval Research, in support of Mr. Jens Jensen