Design and measurement of the Stokes polarimeter for the COSMO K-coronagraph
Abstract
We present the Stokes polarimeter for the new Coronal Solar Magnetism Observatory K-coronagraph. The polarimeter can be used in two modes. In observation mode, it is sensitive to linear polarization only and operates as a "Stokes definition" polarimeter. In the ideal case, such a modulator isolates a particular Stokes parameter in each modulation state. For calibrations, the polarimeter can diagnose the full Stokes vector. We present here the design process of the polarimeter, analyze its tolerances with a Monte Carlo method, develop a way to align the individual elements, and measure and evaluate its performance in both modes.
- Publication:
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The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- September 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/774/1/85
- Bibcode:
- 2013ApJ...774...85H
- Keywords:
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- instrumentation: polarimeters;
- Sun: corona;
- techniques: polarimetric