Poster + Paper
18 July 2024 The future of polarimetry at the NOIRLab Gemini North Observatory facility
Mark G. Rawlings, Rubén J. Díaz, Jennifer L. Hoffman, John White, Matt Rippa, Felix Krämer, Darren DePoy, Dmitry Monin, John Pazder, Garima Singh, Teo Mocnik
Author Affiliations +
Conference Poster
Abstract
Polarimetric observations can provide important information on many astrophysical phenomena beyond that available via conventional imaging and spectroscopy alone. As a first step toward providing Gemini North instrument support for polarimetric observations, an instrument upgrade program is currently under way to bring one of the GPOL polarization modulator units (GPOL-N) into operation in concert with NIRI at Gemini North (GN) to provide an IR imaging polarimetry in the visiting instrument mode. Featuring three deployable trays that accommodate swappable, rotatable polarizing waveplates and calibration polarizers, GPOL is designed to facilitate polarimetric observations over the opticalinfrared wavelength range of 0.3 – 5 μm. When installed on the telescope, GPOL is physically situated inside the Acquisition and Guidance (A&G) unit, and is designed to work in concert with bottom port instruments containing an oninstrument Wollaston prism, such as NIRI. We present here an overview of the functional characteristics of GPOL and the current status of the GPOL+NIRI commissioning project. Following control board and software updates, the GPOL-N unit is currently undergoing further testing as a prelude to refurbishment. We also briefly discuss subsequent Gemini North polarimetric instrumentation plans, which include the possible future commissioning of a visitor mode that combines GPOL with the GNIRS multifunction spectrograph to provide NIR spectropolarimetry, and polarimetric imaging via the GPI 2.0 instrument.
(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mark G. Rawlings, Rubén J. Díaz, Jennifer L. Hoffman, John White, Matt Rippa, Felix Krämer, Darren DePoy, Dmitry Monin, John Pazder, Garima Singh, and Teo Mocnik "The future of polarimetry at the NOIRLab Gemini North Observatory facility", Proc. SPIE 13096, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy X, 1309636 (18 July 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3019428
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KEYWORDS
Gemini Observatory

Polarimetry

Equipment

Gemini Planet Imager

Telescopes

Wave plates

Observatories

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