The space ultraviolet (UV) is a critical astronomical observing window, where a multitude of atomic, ionic, and molecular signatures provide crucial insight into planetary, interstellar, stellar, intergalactic, and extragalactic objects. The next generation of large space telescopes require highly sensitive, moderate-to-high resolution UV spectrograph. However, sensitive observations in the UV are difficult, as UV optical performance and imaging efficiencies have lagged behind counterparts in the visible and infrared regimes. This has historically resulted in simple, low-bounce instruments to increase sensitivity. In this study, we present the design, fabrication, and calibration of a simple, high resolution, high throughput far-UV spectrograph - the Colorado High-resolution Echelle Stellar Spectrograph (CHESS). CHESS is a sounding rocket payload to demonstrate the instrument design for the next-generation UV space telescopes. We present tests and results on the performance of several state-of-the-art diffraction grating and detector technologies for far-UV astronomical applications that were flown aboard the first two iterations of CHESS. The CHESS spectrograph was used to study the atomic-to-molecular transitions within translucent cloud regions in the interstellar medium (ISM) through absorption spectroscopy. The first two flights looked at the sightlines towards alpha Virgo and epsilon Persei, and flight results are presented.

中文翻译：

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CHESS：高分辨率远紫外光谱的创新概念

空间紫外线 (UV) 是一个重要的天文观测窗口，其中大量的原子、离子和分子特征提供了对行星、星际、恒星、星系际和河外物体的重要洞察。下一代大型太空望远镜需要高灵敏度、中高分辨率的紫外光谱仪。然而，在紫外线下进行灵敏的观察是很困难的，因为紫外线的光学性能和成像效率落后于可见光和红外区域的同类产品。这在历史上导致了简单、低反弹的乐器来提高灵敏度。在这项研究中，我们介绍了一种简单、高分辨率、高通量远紫外光谱仪 - 科罗拉多高分辨率阶梯恒星光谱仪 (CHESS) 的设计、制造和校准。CHESS 是一种探空火箭有效载荷，用于展示下一代紫外空间望远镜的仪器设计。我们展示了几种最先进的衍射光栅和探测器技术的性能测试和结果，用于远紫外天文应用，这些技术在 CHESS 的前两次迭代中飞行。CHESS 光谱仪用于通过吸收光谱研究星际介质 (ISM) 中半透明云区域内的原子到分子跃迁。前两次飞行着眼于 alpha Virgo 和 epsilon Persei 的视线，并显示了飞行结果。我们展示了几种最先进的衍射光栅和探测器技术的性能测试和结果，用于远紫外天文应用，这些技术在 CHESS 的前两次迭代中飞行。CHESS 光谱仪用于通过吸收光谱研究星际介质 (ISM) 中半透明云区域内的原子到分子跃迁。前两次飞行着眼于 alpha Virgo 和 epsilon Persei 的视线，并显示了飞行结果。我们展示了几种最先进的衍射光栅和探测器技术的性能测试和结果，用于远紫外天文应用，这些技术在 CHESS 的前两次迭代中飞行。CHESS 光谱仪用于通过吸收光谱研究星际介质 (ISM) 中半透明云区域内的原子到分子跃迁。前两次飞行着眼于 alpha Virgo 和 epsilon Persei 的视线，并显示了飞行结果。