Abstract:
We describe the development of compact, lightweight payloads suitable
for ground, space, and balloon-based observatories. The first instrument is
a compact high resolution (≥ 20000) tunable spatial heterodyne spectrom-
eter (TSHS). Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy (SHS) is a relatively novel
interferometric technique similar to the Fourier transform spectroscopy with
heritage from the Michelson Interferometer. An imaging detector is used at
the output of an SHS to record the spatially-heterodyned interference pat-
tern. The spectrum of the source is obtained by Fourier transforming the
recorded interferogram. Since these instruments do not have slits, the entire
incoming beam can be used to generate the spectrum. The small bandwidth
limitation of the SHS can be overcome by building it in a tunable config-
uration (TSHS). This instrument can be used to observe and study faint,
extended emission line targets by retrieving the high-resolution spectra from
the entire source.
The second instrument is a pointing system suitable for balloon mission.
Our first balloon observations were of atmospheric lines where the pointing
stability is less critical, but now we are observing astronomical sources for
which a pointing mechanism is required. Hence, in this work, we describe the
design and realization of a low-cost light-weight 2-axis correction pointing and
stabilization system intended for use in small balloon flights, built entirely
using off-the-shelf components with an accuracy of 0.5 degrees.
