You have requested a machine translation of selected content from our databases. This functionality is provided solely for your convenience and is in no way intended to replace human translation. Neither SPIE nor the owners and publishers of the content make, and they explicitly disclaim, any express or implied representations or warranties of any kind, including, without limitation, representations and warranties as to the functionality of the translation feature or the accuracy or completeness of the translations.
Translations are not retained in our system. Your use of this feature and the translations is subject to all use restrictions contained in the Terms and Conditions of Use of the SPIE website.
14 February 2003Calibration of a ground-based solar coronal polarimeter
The Mk4 K-coronameter records polarization brightness images of the solar corona from the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, Hawaii, USA. Calibration is required to quantitatively measure coronal polarization brightness, which in turn is used to infer coronal electron density. Matrix techniques are used to map the instrument polarization response. Brightness scaling depends upon precise knowledge of properties of an opal glass attenuator and calibration polarizer, sky transmission, and telescope pointing. In addition, account must be made for polarization at the objective lens and from the terrestrial atmosphere. Calibration parameters are stable to a few percent over a day, but when coupled with uncertainties in calibration optics values, sky transmission, and pointing, the average measurement uncertainty is ±15% ±6×10-9 pB/BSun.
The alert did not successfully save. Please try again later.
David F. Elmore, Joan T. Burkepile, J. Anthony Darnell, Alice R. Lecinski, Andrew L. Stanger, "Calibration of a ground-based solar coronal polarimeter," Proc. SPIE 4843, Polarimetry in Astronomy, (14 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459279