Stacks, maps, and all that CHaS: refined image processing methods to map the nearby universe with the Circumgalactic H-alpha Spectrograph

Ignacio Cevallos-Aleman; David Schiminovich; Meghna Sitaram; Nicole Melso; Barbara Cruvinel Santiago; Nazende I. Kerkeser; Gianni Popko; Mia Yiannias

doi:10.1117/12.3019501

18 July 2024 Stacks, maps, and all that CHαS: refined image processing methods to map the nearby universe with the Circumgalactic H-alpha Spectrograph

Ignacio Cevallos-Aleman, David Schiminovich, Meghna Sitaram, Nicole Melso, Barbara Cruvinel Santiago, Nazende I. Kerkeser, Gianni Popko, Mia Yiannias

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 13096, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy X; 1309643 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3019501
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2024, Yokohama, Japan

Conference Poster

Abstract

The Circumgalactic H-alpha Spectrograph (CHαS) is a ground-based, narrowband optical integral field spectrograph designed to observe ultra-faint extended emission from ionized gas in the nearby universe. Commissioned for use as a facility instrument at MDM observatory, we are currently surveying nearby galaxies to produce deep H-alpha images and velocity maps, complemented with observations in other wavelengths. We present our work developing a robust analysis pipeline for CHαS, providing a toolkit to process images with densely-packed, spatially-resolved spectra. The pipeline includes techniques for astrometric refinement, wavelength mapping and distortion calibration of arrayed spectral images, as well as manipulations in Fourier space. With these, we are able to optimize our image registration and stacking procedures, sky background removal and spectral cube extraction for the tightly packed microlens array images. We highlight results using 5-10h deep image stacks and demonstrate results from cross-correlation with imaging and spectral data from other astronomical surveys.

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Ignacio Cevallos-Aleman, David Schiminovich, Meghna Sitaram, Nicole Melso, Barbara Cruvinel Santiago, Nazende I. Kerkeser, Gianni Popko, and Mia Yiannias "Stacks, maps, and all that CHαS: refined image processing methods to map the nearby universe with the Circumgalactic H-alpha Spectrograph", Proc. SPIE 13096, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy X, 1309643 (18 July 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3019501

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available