The Shape of Working Curves Using Photometric Line Width

Abstract

The shape of working curves using photometric line widths is derived using simplifying assumptions. Their shape is influenced by different effects of line image broadening, and it depends upon the working conditions, which of these will prevail. For small and medium spectrographs, linear working curves given by the light diffusion in the photographic emulsion are most likely to appear. For spectrographs with greater linear dispersion it is the physical line shape or the apparatus function which make themselves evident. In these cases the working curves should be curved.