This paper reports accurate line positions, intensities, self-broadening, -shift and -line mixing coefficients for 56 rotational transitions from multispectrum fits of low noise, high-resolution Fourier-transform spectra. The measured line intensities are within the statistical spread of the previous measurements available in the literature—thus contributing to the efforts to measure the oxygen A-band intensities with an accuracy better than 1%. We determined the integrated band strength and Einstein A coefficient. Using our spectrum calibration method we could clearly show for the first time that there is a meaningful statistical discrepancy in the frequency standards used in spectroscopic studies for the oxygen A-band. We were able to explain how this discrepancy leads to two different sets of shifts reported in the literature and demonstrate the need for precise frequency-type transition wavenumber measurements of the oxygen A-band transitions. We observed deviations from the conventional Voigt profile due to speed-dependent broadening and line mixing effects. Dicke narrowing was observed on a selected group of spectra recorded at pressures between 98 and 337Torr. The Dicke narrowed lineshapes were best modeled using a Galatry profile implemented using a fixed value for the velocity-changing collision rate. The weak line mixing coefficients were determined from fits using the speed-dependent models. Exponential Power Gap (EPG) and Energy Corrected Sudden (ECS) scaling laws were used to calculate the self-broadening and self-line mixing coefficients.

An infrared radiometer (the Infrared Radiometer for Millimetre Astronomy, IRMA) has been developed to measure the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere through its emission at 20 mm. Water vapor is the major contributor to signal phase error in submillimeter interferometric arrays and the principal source of opacity for telescopes operating at infrared wavelengths. While earlier versions of IRMA required hands-on operation, the desire to operate at remote and often hostile sites necessitated the development of sophisticated and robust software. IRMA is a distributed, real-time control and data acquisition system spread across three different computers, and can be controlled remotely over the network by command scripts or a graphical user interface client program.

The Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) is one of three instruments on the European Space Agency's Herschel mission. A detailed understanding of the SPIRE instrument is essential for a successful mission. In particular, it is important to characterize both the in-band spectral profile, and any out-of-band spectral leaks, which would severely degrade performance. A test Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TFTS), with its braod spectral coverage and intermediate spectral resolution, was selected for the spectral characterization of SPIRE. The integration of the TFTS with the existing Ground Support Equipment of the Hershel/SPIRE test facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory imposed several mechanical, optical, electrical, and software constraints. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of the TFTS, and present preliminary results from its use in the SPIRE verification and performance tests.