Optical interferometric polarimetry

Nicholas M. Elias II

doi:10.1117/12.458613

14 February 2003 Optical interferometric polarimetry

Nicholas M. Elias II

Proceedings Volume 4843, Polarimetry in Astronomy; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.458613
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss the need for optical interferometric polarimetry and demonstrate that it is possible with existing technology. Coherent averaging is required; it may be accomplished simply with the addition of a non-polarizing beam splitter after the beam combiner. I define three observables and their corresponding output vectors. One vector is identical to the normalized Stokes vector obtained from classical polarimetry, while the other two are related to the Stokes visibility vector. Calibration of the instrument requires only separate zero-spacing observations of calibrator stars on each of the individual arms - no interferometric measurements are necessary. For a large class of objects, it is possible to create images in all Stokes parameters with a single variable-length baseline.

Citation Download Citation

Nicholas M. Elias II "Optical interferometric polarimetry", Proc. SPIE 4843, Polarimetry in Astronomy, (14 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.458613

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