Spectropolarimetry with the SALT RSS

Janus D. Brink; David A. H. Buckley; Kenneth H. Nordsieck; Stephen B. Potter

doi:10.1117/12.856932

15 July 2010 Spectropolarimetry with the SALT RSS

Janus D. Brink, David A. H. Buckley, Kenneth H. Nordsieck, Stephen B. Potter

Proceedings Volume 7735, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III; 773517 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856932
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The large (~10 m) aperture of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) coupled with the unique capabilities of the Robert Stobie Spectrograph (RSS), promises unparalleled prospects for polarimetric observations on an 8 - 10 m class telescope. RSS is a highly versatile first-generation instrument of the SALT. Results from some of the first commissioning observations with the RSS are presented. A method for reducing SALT RSS spectropolarimetry data is proposed and verified on observations of unpolarised and polarised standard stars. The results provide estimates of telescope and instrumental polarisation as well as a calibration of the instrument's polarimetric position angle offset.

Citation Download Citation

Janus D. Brink, David A. H. Buckley, Kenneth H. Nordsieck, and Stephen B. Potter "Spectropolarimetry with the SALT RSS", Proc. SPIE 7735, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III, 773517 (15 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856932

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