Open AccessDetection and measurement from narrow‐band tunable filter scans
Author(s) -
Jones D. Heath,
Shopbell Patrick L.,
BlandHawthorn Joss
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05001.x
Subject(s) - physics , photometry (optics) , narrowband , filter (signal processing) , optics , fabry–pérot interferometer , optical filter , remote sensing , astronomy , computer science , stars , wavelength , computer vision , geology
The past 5 years have seen a rapid rise in the use of tunable filters in many diverse fields of astronomy, through Taurus Tunable Filter (TTF) instruments at the Anglo‐Australian and William Herschel Telescopes. Over this time we have continually refined aspects of operation and developed a collection of special techniques to handle the data produced by these novel imaging instruments. In this paper, we review calibration procedures and summarize the theoretical basis for Fabry–Perot photometry that is central to effective tunable imaging. Specific mention is made of object detection and classification from deep narrow‐band surveys containing several hundred objects per field. We also discuss methods for recognizing and dealing with artefacts (scattered light, atmospheric effects, etc.), which can seriously compromise the photometric integrity of the data if left untreated. Attention is paid to the different families of ghost reflections encountered, and the strategies used to minimize their presence. In our closing remarks, future directions for tunable imaging are outlined and contrasted with the Fabry–Perot technology employed in the current generation of tunable imagers.