This PDF file contains the editorial “2016 List of Reviewers” for JATIS Vol. 3 Issue 01

Experiments that require linearly polarized brightness measurements, traditionally have obtained three successive images through a linear polarizer that is rotated through three well-defined angles and the images are combined to get the linearly polarized brightness. This technique requires a mechanism to hold the linear polarizer in place and to precisely turn it through the three angles. Obviously, the temporal resolution is lost in such a scenario, since the three images that are used to derive the linearly polarized brightness are taken at three different times. Specifically, in a dynamic corona that is in constant reshaping of its structures, the linearly polarized brightness image produced in this manner may not yield true values all around the corona. In this regard, with the advent of the polarization camera, the linearly polarized brightness can be measured from a single image. This also eliminates the need for a linear polarizer and the associated rotator mechanisms and can contribute toward lower weight, size, power requirements, overall risk of the instrument, and most importantly, increase the temporal resolution. We evaluate the capabilities of a selected polarization camera and how these capabilities could be tested in a ground experiment conducted in conjunction with a total solar eclipse. The ground experiment requires the measurement of the linearly polarized brightness, also known as K-corona, in a corona that also contains unpolarized brightness, known as F-corona, in order to measure three important physical properties pertaining to coronal electrons, namely, the electron density, electron temperature, and the electron speed.

Visible emission line coronagraph (VELC) on board ADITYA-L1 mission is an internally occulted mirror coronagraph designed for solar coronal observations over a field of view (FOV) of 1.05 Ro to 3 Ro. To achieve the proposed science goals, instrument background should be less than 5 ppm over the FOV of VELC. Major contributor toward instrument background is scatter from surface microroughness and particulate contamination over the primary mirror (M1). Hence, a detailed study of scatter through simulations is carried out to arrive at the surface microroughness specifications and surface cleanliness level requirements of M1. Estimation of RMS microroughness correction factor due to finite band width of the profilometer is very important while specifying the RMS microroughness of M1. This paper discusses in detail about scatter simulations, results, and analysis. All simulations are carried out using Advanced System Analysis Program, developed by Breault Research Organization.

We present the results of noise-temperature measurements for four radio astronomy MMIC low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) at physical temperatures from 2 to 160 K. We observe and confirm recent reports that the noise temperature of an LNA exhibits a quadratic dependence with respect to the physical temperature. We are also able to confirm the prediction by Pospieszalski that below a certain physical temperature there is no further significant reduction in noise temperature. We then discuss these results in the context of both the Pospieszalski noise model and some recent Monte–Carlo simulations, which have implied that at very low temperatures, heating of the electron channel above ambient temperature may help to explain the behavior of the drain temperature parameter.

A heating system for the mechanical shutter for the Antarctic Bright Stars Survey Telescope (BSST) is introduced. The system consists of a thermal insulation shutter house and a heating control box. The key design of the thermal-insulation shutter house is introduced. The heating control algorithm based on fuzzy-proportional–integral–derivative is designed to improve the performance of the system. A secure control algorithm for power MOSFET is necessary in extremely cold environments. The system has been tested in the cryogenic environment for 4 weeks, which proved that the heating system has the characteristics of low temperature adaption, high accuracy of the temperature control, remote operation, and detection. As a part of the BSST, the system has been running successfully for over half a year at Zhongshan Station, Antarctica.

In our contribution, we outline the different steps in the design of a fiber-fed spectrographic instrument for stellar astrophysics. Starting from the derivation of theoretical relationships from the scientific requirements and telescope characteristics, the entire optical design of the spectrograph is presented. Specific optical elements, such as a toroidal lens, are introduced to improve the instrument’s efficiency. Then the verification of predicted optical performances is investigated through optical analyses, such as resolution checking. Eventually, the star positioning system onto the central fiber core is explained.

The daytime sky has recently been demonstrated as a useful calibration tool for deriving polarization cross-talk properties of large astronomical telescopes. The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope and other large telescopes under construction can benefit from precise polarimetric calibration of large mirrors. Several atmospheric phenomena and instrumental errors potentially limit the technique’s accuracy. At the 3.67-m AEOS telescope on Haleakala, we performed a large observing campaign with the HiVIS spectropolarimeter to identify limitations and develop algorithms for extracting consistent calibrations. Effective sampling of the telescope optical configurations and filtering of data for several derived parameters provide robustness to the derived Mueller matrix calibrations. Second-order scattering models of the sky show that this method is relatively insensitive to multiple-scattering in the sky, provided calibration observations are done in regions of high polarization degree. The technique is also insensitive to assumptions about telescope-induced polarization, provided the mirror coatings are highly reflective. Zemax-derived polarization models show agreement between the functional dependence of polarization predictions and the corresponding on-sky calibrations.

We outline polarization performance calculations and predictions for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) optics and show Mueller matrices for two of the first light instruments. Telescope polarization is due to polarization-dependent mirror reflectivity and rotations between groups of mirrors as the telescope moves in altitude and azimuth. The Zemax optical modeling software has polarization ray-trace capabilities and predicts system performance given a coating prescription. We develop a model coating formula that approximates measured witness sample polarization properties. Estimates show the DKIST telescope Mueller matrix as functions of wavelength, azimuth, elevation, and field angle for the cryogenic near infra-red spectro-polarimeter (CryoNIRSP) and visible spectro-polarimeter. Footprint variation is substantial and shows vignetted field points will have strong polarization effects. We estimate 2% variation of some Mueller matrix elements over the 5-arc min CryoNIRSP field. We validate the Zemax model by showing limiting cases for flat mirrors in collimated and powered designs that compare well with theoretical approximations and are testable with lab ellipsometers.

We compare a set of wave front sensors (WFS) based on Fourier filtering technique. In particular, this study explores the “class of pyramidal WFS” defined as the 4-faces pyramid WFS, all its recent variations, and also some WFSs as the 3-faces pyramid WFS. First, we describe such a sensors class due to the optical parameters of the Fourier filtering mask and the modulation parameters. Second, we use a unified formalism to create a set of performance criteria: size of the signal on the detector, efficiency of incoming flux, sensitivity, linear range, and chromaticity. Finally, we show the influence of the previous optical and modulation parameters on these performance criteria. This exhaustive study allows one to know how to optimize the sensor regarding performance specifications. We show in particular that the number of faces has influence on the size of the signal but no influence on the sensitivity and linearity range. To modify these criteria, we show that the modulation radius and the apex angle are much more relevant. Moreover we observe that the time spent on edges or faces during a modulation cycle allows to adjust the trade-off between sensitivity and linearity range.