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Jets from Young Stars II pp 123–149Cite as

Spectro-astrometry: The Method, its Limitations, and Applications

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 742))

Abstract

Intermediate resolution spectroscopic observations provide a window into the immediate environment of young stars. In particular, such studies have yielded a lot of new information regarding outflow activity and binarity. Using spectroscopy, one can investigate the kinematics and excitation conditions of jets close to where they are launched and resolve close binaries. The primary constraint to the use of spectroscopy in this manner is the maximum spatial resolution achievable. Observers are all the time aiming to improve angular resolution and overcome the limiting effects of the Earth’s atmosphere. This is where the technique of spectro-astrometry comes to the fore. The spectro-astrometric technique, which allows the user to recover sub-seeing spatial information from a simple spectrum has been applied to many interesting problems. For example, spectro-astrometry has been used to discover that brown dwarfs can drive outflows. In this review of spectro-astrometry, we shall discuss the technique beginning with a revision of angular resolution and astrometry. The limitations of the technique are described, and the uses to which it has been put to date are extensively discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, School of Cosmic Physics, Dublin 4, Ireland

    E. Whelan

  2. Departamento de Engenharia Física, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

    P. Garcia

  3. Centro de Astrofísica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762 Porto, Portugal

    P. Garcia

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  1. E. Whelan
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  2. P. Garcia
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcentri, Largo E. Fermi, 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy

    Francesca Bacciotti  & Leonardo Testi  & 

  2. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 31 Fitzwilliam place, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Emma Whelan

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Whelan, E., Garcia, P. (2008). Spectro-astrometry: The Method, its Limitations, and Applications. In: Bacciotti, F., Testi, L., Whelan, E. (eds) Jets from Young Stars II. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 742. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68032-1_6

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