INTERPRETING FLUX FROM BROADBAND PHOTOMETRY

ABSTRACT We discuss the transformation of observed photometry into flux for the creation of spectral energy distributions (SED) and the computation of bolometric luminosities. We do this in the context of supernova studies, particularly as observed with the Swift spacecraft, but the concepts and tec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astronomical journal 2016-10, Vol.152 (4), p.102-102
Main Authors: Brown, Peter J., Breeveld, Alice, Roming, Peter W. A., Siegel, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
BOLOMETERS
Broadband
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
Converting
COUNTING RATES
DATA ANALYSIS
ENERGY SPECTRA
Flux
FLUX DENSITY
instrumentation: photometers
LUMINOSITY
methods: data analysis
methods: observational
MONOCHROMATIC RADIATION
PHOTOMETRY
SPACE VEHICLES
Spectral energy distribution
SUPERNOVAE
supernovae: general
techniques: photometric
TRANSFORMATIONS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
WAVELENGTHS
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Summary:ABSTRACT We discuss the transformation of observed photometry into flux for the creation of spectral energy distributions (SED) and the computation of bolometric luminosities. We do this in the context of supernova studies, particularly as observed with the Swift spacecraft, but the concepts and techniques should be applicable to many other types of sources and wavelength regimes. Traditional methods of converting observed magnitudes to flux densities are not very accurate when applied to UV photometry. Common methods for extinction and the integration of pseudo-bolometric fluxes can also lead to inaccurate results. The sources of inaccuracy, though, also apply to other wavelengths. Because of the complicated nature of translating broadband photometry into monochromatic flux densities, comparison between observed photometry and a spectroscopic model is best done by forward modeling the spectrum into the count rates or magnitudes of the observations. We recommend that integrated flux measurements be made using a spectrum or SED which is consistent with the multi-band photometry rather than converting individual photometric measurements to flux densities, linearly interpolating between the points, and integrating. We also highlight some specific areas where the UV flux can be mischaracterized.
ISSN:0004-6256
1538-3881
1538-3881
DOI:10.3847/0004-6256/152/4/102