Stellar Spectra Ay16 Lecture 2 Feb 5, 2008
The Nearest Star SOHO UV Image
1.What is a Spectrum. 2.The Atmospheres of stars. 3.Spectral Lines & Quantum Mechanics (the Bohr atom) 4.Ionization 5.Spectral Types 6.The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (intro to the evolution of stars)
Diffraction/Refraction Prism refracts Grating diffracts
The Solar Spectrum Fraunhofer Lines in the spectrum of the Sun
Fraunhofer Lines in the Solar Spectrum (~1817) Designation Wavelength Origin A nm terrestrial oxygen B terrestrial oxygen C hydrogen (H alpha) D neutral sodium (Na I) E neutral iron (Fe I) F hydrogen (H beta) G metal blend H ionized Calcium (Ca II) K ionized Calcium (Ca II)
Where do these features come from? Blackbody Emission by hot gas Absorption by cold gas in front of a hot source
The Bohr Atom
Hydrogen Atom Energy Levels
Hydrogen Ionization Fraction
IONIZATION ENERGIES (in electron volts = eV) Atom 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Hydrogen H Helium He Lithium Li Beryllium Be Boron B Carbon C Nitrogen N Oxygen O Fluorine F Neon Ne Sodium Na Magnesium Mg Aluminum Al
Ionization Energies
Stellar Spectral Classification Spectroscopy (photographic!) started in the late 19th century. Classifiers originally arranged them alphabetically, A-O A. J. Cannon figured out the right order from 200,000 objective prism spectra O B A F G K M And astronomers realized it was a well defined sequence in line strength.
Digital spectral atlas (the modern version of the photographic atlas!)
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Multicolor photography --- Blue and Visual Plates allowed “colors” Objective Prism Spectra Realization that Spectral Type related to Color related to Surface Temperature
Hipparcos HR Diagram 4907 nearby stars with distances to < 5%.
HR Diagram in Luminosity vs Temperature
Solar Spectrum NOAO Atlas, N. Sharp
Hydrogen Atom Energy Levels