The Solar Spectrum

Abstract

The importance of observing the solar spectrum was discussed previously, but it is worth highlighting how the new discoveries achieved using the spectroscope quickly enhanced our knowledge of the Sun. By the early 1900s the advent of the spectroheliograph became one of the most important solar research tools available. With the digital spectroheliograph now on the scene, the spectrograph component is newly providing the means of dispersing the incoming sunlight into the spectral band. The amount of detail which can be recorded within the spectrum is dependent on many parameters, but basically is controlled by the entrance slit gap and the type of diffraction grating used. Like telescopes in general, the resolution which can be achieved from the spectrograph is the key to success. Higher resolution allows more detail to be recorded in and around the target wavelength.