On the Detection of Artefacts in Spectro-astrometry

Abstract

We demonstrate that artificial bipolar structure can be detected using spectro-astrometry when the point spread function (PSF) of a point source suffers distortion in a relatively wide slit. Spectro-astrometry is a technique which allows us to probe the spatial structure of astronomical sources on milliarcsecond scales making it possible to detect close binaries and to study the geometry and kinematics of outflowing gas on scales much smaller than the seeing or the diffraction limit of the telescope. It is demonstrated that distortion of the PSF, caused by tracking errors of the telescope or unstable active optics during an exposure can induce artificial signals which may be misinterpreted as a real-astrometric signal. Using simulations we show that these may be minimised by using a narrow slit relative to the seeing. Spectra should be obtained at anti-parallel slit position angles (eg. 0 and 180 degrees) for comparison in order to allow artificial signatures to be identified.