TSX: TripleSpec eXtraction

(Quick Look Palomar 200-inch TripleSpec Spectral Extraction Program)

Download Download this tar file: tsx.tar (2014-11-24). Untar and read the ' 0.readme ' file for instructions and a description of use.
Download macbook version (no pgplot) Download this tar file: tsx-macbook.tar.gz (2014-11-24). (Must have cfitsio libraries and change references in Makefile.)
Overview of method: The 'tsx' program is designed for a very fast reduction of TripleSpec data, suitable for quick-look of results during an observing session. Certain approximations are made such as assuming a stable flat field and wavelength scale over time. The program is designed to automatically choose extraction and background windows (appropriate for point sources) and select a 'B' image for subtraction. However, manual selection of these windows and the 'B' image are also available.
Wavelength solution: The TripleSpec instrument at Palomar has a fixed configuration. As a result the wavelength scale solution is stable within a small tolerance. A small offset is applied to wavelength scale based on nightsky lines measured in each echelle order. Here are formulas, line identifications, and plots for the wavelength solution based on nightsky emission lines. The wavelengths are vacuum measurements (see Rousselot et al., AA 354, 1134 (2000)).
A - B note: The program only extracts a spectra for only the 'A' image. In order to extract the 'B' spectrum, the program must be run again with the order of files reversed.

tsx : Program to extract TSpec spectra. See ' 0.readme ' file for installation instructions and a description of use.

Syntax: tsx (raw TripleSpec FITS files)  [ TripleSpec B file ] [ sp=pix,pix ] [ asp=arcsec,arcsec ]
               [ -autox ] [ -autob ]  [ flat= ]  [ bk= | abk= ]  [ ac= ]

Calibration files: In the 'tsx.tar' file there is a subdirectory 'tsx/cal/' with calibration files for the echelle curvature, wavelength calibration, masking high and low pixels, and default flat field image. See: calibration_files for documentation.
Atmospheric correction: Every reduced spectra contains a column 'VsumD', which is simply the 'sum' column with a correction made for the Paschen lines in a Vega calibration spectrum.
A single exposure can be divided by a Vega-type star using the 'ac=' option. This divides the 'sum' column of a faint object spectrum, by the 'VsumD' column of a bright Vega-type star. For example, if the faint object is 'tspec0050' (with a B exposure 'tspec0051'), and 'tspec0048' is a bright, Vega-type star:
```
tsx tspec0050 tspec0051 -autox ac=tspec0048
```
The divided spectrum will be in the column 'sumac'. This assumes that 'tspec0048' is a Vega-type star and was already processed.
For summing up multiple exposures of a faint object, use the 'tsxop' program. For an example, see: summed exposure correction .
tsxop : This program does simple arithmetic on the spectra files (-sp.tbl) and creates ASCII tables with wavelength, result, and error.
```
Syntax: tsxop (operation) (root1) (root2) ...   result=(filename)  [ -plot ]
                [ -plot ]  [ col=(column name) ]
  This program will operate on spectral tables (-sp.tbl) written by tsx or 
  written by this program (tsxop).
  Operations:  ave  add  sub  mul  div
  If the '-plot' option is used a PostScript plot will be created using 'tsxplot'.
  Use the option 'col=' to operate on other columns in the -sp.tbl file, default
  is the 'sum' column.
```
The 'root' name would be the filename before the '-sp.tbl' extension. So for example:
```
  tsxop add tspec0080 tspec0081 result=tspecadd
```
would add up the values in the 'sum' column from the files 'tspec0080-sp#.tbl' and 'tspec0081-sp#.tbl', and create files for each order called 'tspecadd-sp#.tbl'. The program copies the 'wave' column from the first file (files must have identical wavelength scales), and computes the appropriae 'error' column (only for columns 'sum', 'cps', and 'flux'). Operations are done in series, including subtraction and division.
The 'root' name would be the filename before the '-sp.tbl' extension.
You also combine individual exposures and processed files. So for example:
```
  tsxop div tspec0065 tspecadd result=tspecdiv
```
would divide the files 'tspec0065-sp#.tbl' each by the corresponding files 'tspecadd-sp#.tbl' previously created by 'tsxop'. You can operate on any combination of individual exposure and processed files.

tsxplot : This program plots the spectra in the -sp#.tbl spectral files to a single PostScript plot file, or the profiles in the -pro#.tbl files. This program is run automatically by tsx when reducing a single exposure.

Syntax: tsxplot (raw TripleSpec FITS file or root name of summed file)
  Create PGPLOT PostScript plots.
Options:
  x=      : name of column to plot on x axis (default=wave/arcsec).
  y=      : name of column to plot on y axis (default=sum/flux_mb).
  z=      : name of 2nd column to plot on y axis (default=none).
  object= : print this string in title of plot.
  -sp     : read -sp#.tbl files.
  -pro    : read -pro#.tbl files.
  -ps     : create PS plot file.
  ps=     : specify root filename of PostScript plot file.
    eo=   : Echelle Order to plot (3,4,5,6,7) (default: show all orders).
  xmin=   : Minimum X value to plot.
  xmax=   : Maximum X value to plot.
  ymin=   : Minimum Y value to plot.
  ymax=   : Maximum Y value to plot.
   bin=   : Number of pixels to bin (average) (default: no binning).

The 'root' name would be the filename before the '-sp.tbl' extension. So for example:

  tsxplot tspec0080 -sp -ps

would create 'tspec0080-sp.ps' showing all 5 echelle orders.

  tsxplot tspec0080 -sp  eo=4  ps=t80_order4  xmin=1.5 xmax=1.6

would create 't80_order4-sp.ps' showing just echelle order number 4 and only the data between 1.5 and 1.6 microns.

  tsxplot tspec0080 -sp -ps  x=pix y=s2n

would create plots of signal-to-noise vs. pixel number.

Last modified: 24 November 2014