An Imaging Spectrometer for Long-Term Studies of Emission-Line Objects

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We propose to complete construction and implementation of an Imaging Fabry-Perot Spectrometer (IFPS) which will be used in long- term studies of emission-line objects with the 8.1-m Perkins Telescope at Lowell Observatory. A variety of etalons with spectral resolution from R = 1200 to R = 20,000 will be used to obtain two-dimensional spectroscopy of active galactic nuclei, starburst galaxies, irregular galaxies, and galactic emission nebulate (H II regions, planetaries, and supernova remnants) in order to study the velocity fields and variations in physical conditions across spatially resolved objects. A custom-designed optical system enables us to use the IFPS from the near ultraviolet to the far red region of the optical spectrum. The combination of a high-throughput system, a stable, high quantum efficiency detector, and significant amounts of observing time will allow important problems in fundamental astrophysics to be addressed with a moderate-aperture telescope.