Electronic Imaging in Astronomy: Detectors and Instrumentation

by McLean, Ian S.

• ISBN13: 9783540765820
• ISBN10: 3540765824
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-08-03
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

"This book describes the remarkable developments that have taken place in astronomical detectors and instrumentation in recent years, from the invention of the charge-coupled divide (CCD) in 1970 to the current era of very large telescopes. It includes all the key methods used to obtain astronomical images across the entire spectrum, and uses the story of the charge-coupled device to link many of them together. The book's unique approach blends scientific motivation, a focus on specific instrumentation, and a thorough description of electronic imaging technology across a range of wavelengths."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

The development of electronic imaging in astronomy	p. 1
Beating the atmosphere	p. 39
Telescopes	p. 77
The discovery power of modern astronomical instruments	p. 119
Instrumentation and detectors	p. 161
Designing and building astronomical instruments	p. 199
Charge-coupled devices	p. 241
Practical operation of CCDs	p. 277
Characterization and calibration of array instruments	p. 315
Image processing and analysis	p. 353
Electronic imaging at infrared wavelengths	p. 385
Electronic imaging at ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths	p. 431
Electronic imaging at sub-millimeter and radio wavelengths	p. 467
Future developments	p. 501
Answers to selected exercises	p. 515
Powers-of-10 notation	p. 521
Units of measurement and useful conversions	p. 523
Physical and astronomical constants	p. 527
Astronomical magnitude scale and relation to lux	p. 529
Basic observational astronomy facts	p. 531
Useful statistics	p. 535
Index	p. 537
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.