How can I calculate the errors in using Doppler shifts for binary stars?

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hey guys,

im doing a report on binary stars, using doppler shifts to get some results for periods etc but bit unsure about how to do the errors?

i realize that the errors arise in the speed of the stars and the dispersion of the photons but how could i calculate this?

cheers for any help
x
 
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Are you familar with the ordninary error-propagation forumula?
 
yeh i know a bit about that, (dx/X)^2 and all that?
how do i calculate the error in dispersion and that tho?
x
 
http://sosnick.uchicago.edu/propagation_errors.pdf

Look at page 8, and follow that chapter.

Then you write your formula for Doppler shift as a function of frequency and speed of star. What is the definition of dispersion?
 
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