The NASA/NSO spectromagnetograph

Abstract

The Kitt Peak Vacuum Telescope's spectromagnetograph features real-time digital analysis of long-slit spectra formed on a 2D CCD detector, and is located at an exit port of a Littrow spectrograph. Commercial video processing boards are used to digitize the spectral images at video rates and to separate, accumulate, and buffer the spectra in the two polarization states. A processor removes fixed-pattern bias and gain from the spectra in cadence with spatial scanning of the image across the entrance slit; a data-control computer conducts position and width analysis of the line profiles and records line-of-sight magnetic field, Doppler shift, and other computed parameters, as demonstrated by the early observations presented.