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The Galway astronomical Stokes polarimeter: an all-Stokes optical polarimeter with ultra-high time resolution

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Abstract

Many astronomical objects emit polarised light, which can give information both about their source mechanisms, and about (scattering) geometry in their source regions. To date (mostly) only the linearly polarised components of the emission have been observed in stellar sources. Observations have been constrained because of instrumental considerations to periods of excellent observing conditions, and to steady, slowly or periodically-varying sources. This leaves a whole range of interesting objects beyond the range of observation at present. The Galway Astronomical Stokes Polarimeter (GASP) has been developed to enable us to make observations on these very sources. GASP measures the four components of the Stokes Vector simultaneously over a broad wavelength range 400–800 nm., with a time resolution of order microseconds given suitable detectors and a bright source - this is possible because the optical design contains no moving or modulating components. The initial design of GASP is presented and we include some preliminary observational results demonstrating that components of the Stokes vector can be measured to \(<1\) % in conditions of poor atmospheric stability. Issues of efficiency and stability are addressed. An analysis of suitable astronomical targets, demanding the unique properties of GASP, is also presented.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Science Foundation Ireland for funding the development of GASP under grant number 09/RFP/AST239. We are grateful to Loiano Observatory (Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna) and to Calar Alto Observatory (Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán) for provision of telescope time during the development and commissioning of GASP.

The authors also wish to thank the referees/reviewers of the draft of this paper for their detailed and helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Patrick Collins, Gillian Kyne, Michael Redfern & Andy Shearer

  2. Cambridge Consultants, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CD4 0DW, UK

    David Lara

  3. Tyndall National Institute, Lee Maltings, Cork, Ireland

    Brendan Sheehan

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  1. Patrick Collins
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Correspondence to Michael Redfern.

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Collins, P., Kyne, G., Lara, D. et al. The Galway astronomical Stokes polarimeter: an all-Stokes optical polarimeter with ultra-high time resolution. Exp Astron 36, 479–503 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-013-9342-5

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