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MOPTOP: A multi-colour optimised optical polarimeter

Jermak, HE, Steele, IA and Smith, RJ (2016) MOPTOP: A multi-colour optimised optical polarimeter. In: SPIE 9908, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy , 9908. (Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, 26th June 2016, Edinburgh, UK).

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Abstract

We present the design and science case for the Liverpool Telescope's fourth-generation polarimeter; MOPTOP: a Multicolour OPTimised Optical Polarimeter which is optimised for sensitivity and bi-colour observations. We introduce an optimised polarimeter which is as far as possible limited only by the photon counting efficiency of the detectors. Using a combination of CMOS cameras, a continuously rotating half-wave plate and a wire grid polarising beamsplitter, we predict we can accurately measure the polarisation of sources to ∼ 1% at ∼19th magnitude in 10 minutes on a 2 metre telescope. For brighter sources we anticipate much low systematics (0.1%) than our current polarimeter. The design also gives the ability to measure polarization and photometric variability on timescales as short as a few seconds. Overall the instrument will allow accurate measurements of the intra-nightly variability of the polarisation of sources such as gamma-ray bursts and blazars (AGN orientated with the jet pointing toward the observer), allowing the constraint of magnetic field models revealing more information about the formation, ejection and collimation of jets. © 2016 SPIE.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Additional Information: MOPTOP: a multi-colour optimised optical polarimeter Helen Jermak ; Iain A. Steele ; Robert J. Smith Proc. SPIE 9908, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, 99084I (August 9, 2016); doi:10.1117/12.2232324
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Astrophysics Research Institute
Publisher: Society of Photo-optical Intsrumentation Ideas
Date Deposited: 10 Feb 2017 12:03
Last Modified: 13 Apr 2022 15:15
DOI or ID number: 10.1117/12.2232324
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/5305
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