Issue |
Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser.
Volume 122, Number 2, April II 1997
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 371 - 380 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/aas:1997130 | |
Published online | 15 April 1997 |
Minimum-component baselines: Fourier analysis for continuum assessment
Royal Greenwich Observatory, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK
Received:
22
November
1994
Accepted:
22
July
1996
This describes a technique for fitting baselines or continua to scans or spectra with a large proportion occupied by signal in the form of sources or emission/absorption lines. It is essentially a high-pass filtering technique; the very lowest Fourier frequencies are “filtered out" by using them to construct a model of the continuum. The technique is interactive, and subjective in that some decision is required by the analyst; but it is very stable despite this. Errors are analyzed and some examples are given to demonstrate the versatility of the technique. The route to generating an objective (hands-off) technique is discussed.
Key words: methods: data analysis; numerical / techniques: image processing
© European Southern Observatory (ESO), 1997