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The Diffuse Interstellar Cloud Experiment: a high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectrograph.
Eric Schindhelm1, Matthew Beasley, Eric B Burgh
1Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy, University of Colorado, 2000 Colorado Avenue, Duane Physics Building C333, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA. eric.schindhelm@colorado.edu
A new sounding rocket payload enables high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. This instrument provides new insights into hot gas processes in the local interstellar medium by observing the O VI doublet.
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Area of Science:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space Science
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- The local interstellar medium contains hot gas, crucial for understanding galactic evolution.
- Observing the O VI doublet is key to probing these hot gas regions.
- Previous spectroscopic methods lacked the required resolution and compactness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, assemble, and launch a sounding rocket payload for high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectroscopy.
- To investigate the physical processes governing hot gas in the local interstellar medium.
- To obtain new insights into the O VI doublet absorption.
Main Methods:
- A Cassegrain telescope followed by a modified Rowland spectrograph was designed.
- A compact spectrograph design achieved a resolving power of 60,000 using a magnifying secondary optic.
- Holographically ruled gratings minimized aberrations induced by the secondary optic.
Main Results:
- The sounding rocket payload was successfully designed, assembled, and launched.
- The instrument achieved high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectroscopy.
- Optical design and alignment of the telescope and spectrograph were presented alongside flight results.
Conclusions:
- The developed instrument is capable of high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectroscopy.
- The payload successfully obtained spectra of the O VI doublet.
- This technology offers new avenues for studying the local interstellar medium's hot gas.

