An imaging polarimeter (IMPOL) for multi-wavelength observations
Abstract
Taking advantage of the advances in array detector technology, an imaging polarimeter (IMPOL) has been constructed for measuring linear polarization in the wavelength band from 400-800 nm. It makes use of a Wollaston prism as the analyzer to measure simultaneously the two orthogonal polarization components that define a Stoke's parameter. An achromatic half-wave plate is used to rotate the plane of polarization with respect to the axis of the analyzer so that the second Stoke's parameter also can be determined. With a field of view corresponding to about 30x30 mm(2) for a \diameter 1.2 m, f/13 telescope, a sensitive, liquid-N_2 cooled CCD camera as the detector and a built-in acquisition and guidance unit, the instrument can be used for studying stellar fields or extended objects with an angular resolution of ~ 2arcsec . The instrumental polarization is less than 0.05% and the accuracies of measurement are primarily limited by photon noise for typical observations.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series
- Pub Date:
- March 1998
- DOI:
- 10.1051/aas:1998148
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/9701028
- Bibcode:
- 1998A&AS..128..369R
- Keywords:
-
- INSTRUMENTATION: POLARIMETERS;
- TECHNIQUES: POLARIMETRY;
- POLARIZATION;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 10 pages including 5 embedded figures