Working with VIMOS-IFU data: Searching and characterizing the faint haloes of planetary nebulae

Abstract In this contribution, we present the VIMOS-IFU data analysis of two planetary nebulae: NGC 3242 and NGC 4361. Due to the technical nature of the workshop, we emphasize some specific problems of data reduction and analysis: accuracy in flux calibration, importance of scattered light and improvement of the S/N ratio. We estimate that accuracy of our flux calibration is ∼15% in the spectral range 4200–6100 A. At ∼10″ from the center of a point source, the intensity is ≲0.02% of the peak value, indicating that scattered light is negligible. Some examples of science that we are doing are shown. In particular, we have established an apparent temperature gradient across the halo of NGC NGC3242.