A method for improving the signal-to-noise ratio in IUE high-dispersion spectra

The flat-fielding technique was used to reduce fixed pattern noise in high dispersion IUE spectra, producing improvements in S/N of typically 40 percent compared with un-flat-fielded summed spectra. Weak spectral features may be more reliably identified. Such improvements are noted for specially obtained multiply-exposed images and for singly-exposed images taken from the IUE archives. However it is unclear if the technique is usable or as effective for all spectra.