Design of a Mid-IR polarimeter for SOFIA
Mid-infrared polarimetry remains an underexploited technique; where available it is limited in spectral coverage from the ground, and conspicuously absent from the Spitzer, JWST and Herschel instrument suites. The unique characteristics of SOFIA afford unprecedented spectral coverage and sensitivity...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2008
|
| _version_ | 1826262839462985728 |
|---|---|
| author | Packham, C Escuti, M Boreman, G Quijano, I Franklin, B Axon, D Hough, J Jones, T Roche, P Tamura, M Telesco, C Levenson, N Rodgers, J McGuire, J |
| author_facet | Packham, C Escuti, M Boreman, G Quijano, I Franklin, B Axon, D Hough, J Jones, T Roche, P Tamura, M Telesco, C Levenson, N Rodgers, J McGuire, J |
| author_sort | Packham, C |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Mid-infrared polarimetry remains an underexploited technique; where available it is limited in spectral coverage from the ground, and conspicuously absent from the Spitzer, JWST and Herschel instrument suites. The unique characteristics of SOFIA afford unprecedented spectral coverage and sensitivity in the mid-infrared waveband. We discuss the preliminary optical design for a 5-40 m spectro-polarimeter for use on SOFIA, the SOFIA Mid-InfraRed Polarimeter (SMIRPh). The design furthers the existing 5-40μm imaging and spectroscopic capabilities of SOFIA, and draws on experience gained through the University of Florida's mid-IR imagers, spectrometer and polarimeter designs of T-ReCS and CanariCam. We pay special attention to the challenges of obtaining polarimetric materials suitable at both these wavelengths and cryogenic temperatures. Finally, we (briefly) present an overview of science highlights that could be performed from a 5-40μm imaging- and spectro-polarimeter on SOFIA. Combined with the synergy between the possible future far-IR polarimeter, Hale, this instrument would provide the SOFIA community with unique and exciting science capabilities, leaving a unique scientific legacy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:42:25Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:2121ed05-a5b9-4d78-ae45-4d3d497b0594 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:42:25Z |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:2121ed05-a5b9-4d78-ae45-4d3d497b05942022-03-26T11:31:33ZDesign of a Mid-IR polarimeter for SOFIAJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:2121ed05-a5b9-4d78-ae45-4d3d497b0594EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2008Packham, CEscuti, MBoreman, GQuijano, IFranklin, BAxon, DHough, JJones, TRoche, PTamura, MTelesco, CLevenson, NRodgers, JMcGuire, JMid-infrared polarimetry remains an underexploited technique; where available it is limited in spectral coverage from the ground, and conspicuously absent from the Spitzer, JWST and Herschel instrument suites. The unique characteristics of SOFIA afford unprecedented spectral coverage and sensitivity in the mid-infrared waveband. We discuss the preliminary optical design for a 5-40 m spectro-polarimeter for use on SOFIA, the SOFIA Mid-InfraRed Polarimeter (SMIRPh). The design furthers the existing 5-40μm imaging and spectroscopic capabilities of SOFIA, and draws on experience gained through the University of Florida's mid-IR imagers, spectrometer and polarimeter designs of T-ReCS and CanariCam. We pay special attention to the challenges of obtaining polarimetric materials suitable at both these wavelengths and cryogenic temperatures. Finally, we (briefly) present an overview of science highlights that could be performed from a 5-40μm imaging- and spectro-polarimeter on SOFIA. Combined with the synergy between the possible future far-IR polarimeter, Hale, this instrument would provide the SOFIA community with unique and exciting science capabilities, leaving a unique scientific legacy. |
| spellingShingle | Packham, C Escuti, M Boreman, G Quijano, I Franklin, B Axon, D Hough, J Jones, T Roche, P Tamura, M Telesco, C Levenson, N Rodgers, J McGuire, J Design of a Mid-IR polarimeter for SOFIA |
| title | Design of a Mid-IR polarimeter for SOFIA |
| title_full | Design of a Mid-IR polarimeter for SOFIA |
| title_fullStr | Design of a Mid-IR polarimeter for SOFIA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design of a Mid-IR polarimeter for SOFIA |
| title_short | Design of a Mid-IR polarimeter for SOFIA |
| title_sort | design of a mid ir polarimeter for sofia |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT packhamc designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT escutim designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT boremang designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT quijanoi designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT franklinb designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT axond designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT houghj designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT jonest designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT rochep designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT tamuram designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT telescoc designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT levensonn designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT rodgersj designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia AT mcguirej designofamidirpolarimeterforsofia |