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Fourier Transform Spectrometer Update (1Mar96) (from NSO, NOAO Newsletter No. 45, March 1996) The NSO Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) is a 1-meter path difference folded Michelson interference spectrometer that can provide spectral wavenumber resolution of 0.005 Kayser (wavenumber) in single-pass mode, or 0.0025 Kayser in double-pass mode. The usable spectral range is 220 nm to 18 um, and the instrument can be used in conjunction with either the McMath-Pierce solar telescope main beam, east auxiliary telescope, or laboratory sources. This versatile instrument contributes substantially in the areas of solar physics, terrestrial atmospheric chemistry, and atomic/molecular physics. The breadth of the FTS is illustrated by the following list of observing runs for the January-March 1996 quarter: "Prominence Electric Field Measurements in H I 10.503 um," P. Foukal "Laboratory Spectroscopy of Molecules Found In The Sun," P. Bernath "Long-Path Laboratory Measurments of Infrared Spectra of CO sub 2 and H sub 2 O" M.A. Smith "Monitoring of Long-Term Trends in the Concentrations of Atmospheric gases from McMath FTS Solar Spectra," C. Rinsland "Infrared Half-Widths and Shifts of Methane," J. Margolis "Temperature Dependence of Oxygen Broadening of Nitric Oxide HNO sub 2 Line Intensities," C. Chakerian "Laboratory Measurements of Diatomic Metal Oxides and Metal Hydrides," L. O'Brien "Laboratory Infrared Spectroscopy," L. Brown "Laboratory Spectroscopy," R. Toth In April, the FTS will be upgraded with a modern A/D converter. This will replace an aging electronic component that is becoming difficult to maintain, and will improve the data by reducing the amplitude of "ghost" fringes. In addition, the A/D will be coupled with a PC and a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) board that will enable a larger suite of electronic filters to be applied to the data stream. Recently, NSO (along with a group of FTS users) was successful in proposing to the NSF chemistry division for support of the FTS laboratory program. One result has been the hiring of Michael Dulick, an experienced FTS scientist who will provide support for observing runs as well as further develop the McMath-Pierce FTS and strengthen its scientific program. We welcome the submission of proposals to use the unique capabilities of the FTS. Frank Hill
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