VALD3 Documentation
About VALD
The VALD database was created in 1995 as the “Vienna Atomic Line Database” and aimed at providing the relevant information for atomic transitions significantly contributing to absorption in stellar spectra.
The primary goals of VALD are to compile accurate and complete lists of spectral lines relevant to stellar atmospheres and spectroscopy, and to evaluate line lists and suggest rankings according to the quality of line data.
What VALD offers
The VALD database provides
- Simple and fast access to individual entries from a wide range of data sources
- Tools to extract and combine data from different sources based on recommended or user defined quality assessments.
- Detailed information on literature references and estimates of data quality
How to become a VALD user
VALD is open for anyone. However, in order to keep track of usage statistics, we ask you to send us your email address and affiliation. If you want to register as a new user, please use the Contact Form.
How to extract data from the VALD database
There are two principal methods of interacting with the VALD database. You can (1) prepare requests with the help of our Web interface, or (2) submit requests directly by email.
In both cases, a request can be one of the following four basic types.
Show line
extracts all information about a few spectral lines within a small wavelength interval from all sourcesExtract element
extracts transition data with highest ranking for all lines of a species within a certain wavelength intervalExtract all
same as Extract Element, but for all species contained in VALDExtract stellar
extracts all spectral lines with highest ranked data producing significant absorption
for specific stellar atmospheric conditions.
In addition, the output of each request can be customized with the help of personal extraction preferences. More detailed information on the format of these requests, the available options as well as examples of resulting output can be found by clicking on the links above. In addition to option and unit selection user can adjust the quality ranking and make proprietary line list selection using personal configuration editor (web interface only).
Access to the VALD interface
Either through one of the following mirror sites :
Or by sending a request to one of the email addresses below:
Detailed information on the contents of the VALD database
More detailed and technical information on the content of the database can be found through the following links.
Additional information
Feedback is welcome - please use the Contact Form