Correcting polarization crosstalk in the ESPaDOnS spectro-polarimeter

Gregory Barrick; Tom Benedict; Dan Sabin

doi:10.1117/12.856084

20 July 2010 Correcting polarization crosstalk in the ESPaDOnS spectro-polarimeter

Gregory Barrick, Tom Benedict, Dan Sabin

Proceedings Volume 7735, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III; 77354C (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856084
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

ESPaDOnS is a high-resolution, cross-dispersed, fiber fed, echelle spectrograph in use at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). The light from the telescope passes through a polarimeter stage before being injected into the fibers that feed the spectrograph, so the instrument is capable of determining the polarization of the stellar spectra from 370 - 1000 nm in wavelength. One limit to the accuracy of the polarimetry is the inevitable polarization crosstalk added by all optics prior to polarization analysis. The main source of this crosstalk is stress birefringence in the glass of the optics; either residual from the annealing process or induced by the mounting of the optics. The process by which the crosstalk in ESPaDOnS has been reduced from 5% or more to less than 1% is discussed in this paper.

Citation Download Citation

Gregory Barrick, Tom Benedict, and Dan Sabin "Correcting polarization crosstalk in the ESPaDOnS spectro-polarimeter", Proc. SPIE 7735, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III, 77354C (20 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856084

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available