NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Exposure time for space-borne IR spatial interferometerA mathematical analysis is performed to determine the relationship between the signal-to-noise ratio and the exposure time for an orbiting IR heterodyne spatial interferometer. The analysis includes consideration of the transformation of the interferogram to obtain the source angular intensity distribution so that the signal-to-noise ratio pertains to the angular distribution rather than to the interferogram. The analysis is applied to a number of known IR sources. The results presented show that an interferometer with a 30-m baseline using half-meter telescopes should be able to image a source such as IRC + 30219 with a signal-to-noise ratio of 10 in a total exposure time of less than an hour.
Document ID
19790037272
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wolfe, R. H., Jr.
(IBM Corp. Federal Systems Div., Houston, Tex., United States)
Simpson, R. S.
(Houston, University Houston, Tex., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 15, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Applied Optics
Volume: 18
Subject Category
Spacecraft Instrumentation
Accession Number
79A21285
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-14350
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available