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NSF Chemistry Proposal (1Sep95)
(from NSO, NOAO Newsletter No. 43, September 1995)

Given the reductions experienced during the last fiscal year, and the
dismal outlook for future funding, it became clear that NSO could no
longer support the Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) laboratory
spectroscopy program. The laboratory user community was informed in
the spring of 1994 that the program would be closed at the end of
fiscal year 1995 if other support was not found. The community rallied
around the program and a proposal was prepared and submitted to NSF
Chemistry in the fall 1994. I'm happy to report that I have received
notification that the proposal has been recommended for funding.

This proposal requested funding for a three year period to assure that
the FTS on Kitt Peak can remain available for laboratory spectroscopy.
The requested funds will fully support one position to operate and
maintain the spectrometer. The funds will also be used to buy
equipment and supplies that support the laboratory observations and
enhance the use of the spectrometer for laboratory studies.

Although the FTS was designed for research in solar physics, from 1978
to the present, substantial allotments of time were made available to
laboratory spectroscopists at almost no cost to them. This was
possible because the instrument is a facility open to the scientific
community. However, reductions of NSF/AST funding jeopardized the
continued operation of this instrument for laboratory purposes; an
institution devoted to astronomy must give priority to its main
objectives. The funding requested will ensure continued access to the
instrument for laboratory projects.

The instrument has capabilities for laboratory spectroscopy not
available anywhere else in the world. Its total spectral coverage is
550-45,000 cm^-1. It simultaneously achieves high resolution (0.0025
cm^-1 at 1000 cm^-1 and 0.01 cm^-1 at 3000 cm^-1), excellent
signal-to-noise ratio (500:1 for 1-hour integration) and wide bandpass
(1000 cm^-1 to 3000 cm^-1 for a single spectrum). This means that high
quality measurements of line positions, strengths and widths can be
obtained readily. Through a decade of use as a laboratory system,
necessary support equipment (absorption cells, vacuum systems, optics,
detectors, etc.) has been brought together to provide a well-equipped
facility for visiting investigators.

Many thanks to our laboratory users for coming to the aid of the
program and special thanks to Peter Bernath (University of Waterloo)
for helping to lead the effort.

Jacques Beckers, Jeremy Wagner

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