First-Order Grating G430M

Description

Like the G430L grating, the G430M grating is used with the CCD and has a spectral range from 3020–5600 Å.

Since a single exposure taken with this grating covers only 286 Å the grating must be scanned, with a series of exposures taken at 10 distinct settings, to cover the full spectral range of the grating.

Recommended Uses

The G430M grating mode is designed for observations where spatially resolved, long slit spectroscopy is desired at relatively high spectral resolution (R ~ 6000) over a limited region of the NUV or optical spectrum.


Grating

Spectral Range

Average
Dispersion
(Å per Pixel)

Plate Scale
(arcsec/pixel)

Tilts

Central Wavelengths

Complete

Per Tilt

G430M

3020–5610

286

0.28

0.05078

Prime

3165, 3423, 3680, 3936, 4194, 4451, 4706, 4961, 5216, 5471


 

 

 

 

 

Secondary

3305, 3843, 4781, 5093

Figure 13.14: Wavelength Ranges for the G430M Grating Setting.


G430M Sensitivities


Table 13.6: G430M Sensitivities & Throughputs for a Point Source.

λ

Sensitivity

% Throughput

3050

6.7E13

  3.5

3150

9.1E13

  4.5

3250

1.0E14

  4.8

3350

9.9E13

  4.7

3450

1.0E14

  4.6

3550

1.1E14

  4.9

3650

1.3E14

  5.6

3750

1.6E14

  6.7

3850

2.0E14

  8.1

3950

2.3E14

  9.2

4050

2.5E14

  9.6

4150

2.6E14

  9.7

4250

2.7E14

  9.9

4350

2.9E14

10.3

4450

3.0E14

10.5

4550

3.0E14

10.4

4650

3.0E14

10.0

4750

3.0E14

  9.9

4850

3.1E14

10.2

4950

3.4E14

10.8

5050

3.6E14

11.3

5150

3.7E14

11.3

5250

3.6E14

10.8

5350

3.4E14

10.1

5450

3.3E14

  9.4

5500

3.2E14

  8.9

Figure 13.15: G430M Point Source (left axis), and Diffuse Source (right axis) Sensitivities.


Note:

Point source sensitivity assumes full transmission (zero slit losses). Diffuse source sensitivity assumes a 0.1" wide slit. To convert point source sensitivities to diffuse source sensitivities multiply the point source values by the grating spatial (cross dispersion) plate scale in units of arcseconds per pixel and by the width of the desired slit in units of arcseconds.

G430M Signal-to-Noise

Note:

The top axis displays constant Fλ values corresponding to the STMAG units (V+STMAGλ) on the bottom axis. Recall that STMAG=0 is equivalent to Fλ = 3.63E–9 erg/cm2/s/Å. The curves are labeled with exposure times in seconds.
 

Figure 13.16: Diffuse Source Signal-to-Noise as a Function of STMAG for G430M.


Figure 13.17: Point Source Signal-to-Noise as a Function of STMAG for G430M.