[net.physics] slit in spectrograph

markp (01/27/83)

I'm no expert, but I thought that the function of the slit was to give
a "line" of light which is imaged by the grating to form the "lines" of
a line-spectrum.  Of course the narrower the slit the closer the lines
of your spectrum can be without overlapping, but I'll bet that this is
true only down to a certain slit narrowness beyond which the diffraction
effect of the slit itself causes problems.


Always ready to speculate,

Mark R. Paulin
...decvax!teklabs!tekmdp!markp