Instruments: Polarimeters

Polarimeters Telescopes

High-precision polarimetry is the experimental basis of our research. Several polarimeters were developed and built under my lead for astrophysical and astrobiological studies and applications. They are deployed and operated at a number of telescopes and laboratories world-wide:


@SBerdyugina

BioPol

  • Biosignature Polarimeter: a laboratory experiment to measure bidirectional reflection functions in polarized light from biological and non-biological samples;
    two copies have been deployed in laboratories at IfA/Maui, University of Hawaii, USA, and Leibniz-Institut fuer Sonnenphysik (KIS), Germany (Berdyugina et al. 2016, 2018);
    funded by the ERC Advanced Grant HotMol project (PI S.Berdyugina);
  • telescopes: the BioPol concept is developed for the next-generation extremely-large telescopes, such as the European Extremely Large Telescope and ExoLife Finder (ELF) Telescope which will be capable of detecting signatures of both organic life and civilizations;
  • science: to model polarized spectra of habitable planets and develop a novel approach for remote detection of extraterrestrial life;


    • @VPiirola

    DIPOL-UF

  • Dual Image Polarimeter - Ultra Fast: broad-band polarimetry simultaneously in three bands: blue, green, and red, using fast Andor EM-CCD cameras;
    achieved polarimetric accuracy 2x10^-6 on a 2.5m telescope;
    designed and built in cooperation between Leibniz-Institut fuer Sonnenphysik (KIS), Germany, and University of Turku (UTU), Finland (Piirola et al. 2021);
    funded by the ERC Advanced Grant HotMol project (PI S.Berdyugina);
  • telescope: Nordic Optical Telescope (La Palma);
  • science: high-precision polarimetry of astrophysical objects (e.g., exoplanets, black holes, white dwarfs)


    • @DGisler

    GPP+AO

  • GREGOR Planet Polarimeter: an analogue of the InnoPol imaging polarimeter combined with a solar Adaptive Optics (AO), night-time Wave-Front Sensor (WFS), fast EM CCD and FLC polarimetric modulation unit (Gisler et al. 2016);
    funded by the ERC Advanced Grant HotMol project (PI S.Berdyugina);
  • telescope: GREGOR@night, Tenerife;
  • science: to search for and characterize planetosimals in protoplanetary disks, to investigate atmospheres of Solar system planetary bodies.


    • @VPiirola

    DIPOL-2

  • Dual Image Polarimeter: broad-band polarimetry simultaneously in three bands: blue, green, and red;
    achieved polarimetric accuracy 10^-5 for a 10mag star at a 4m telescope and 2x10^-6 for a 4mag star on a 0.6m telescope;
    designed and built in cooperation between Leibniz-Institut fuer Sonnenphysik (KIS), Germany, and University of Turku (UTU), Finland (Piirola et al. 2014);
    funded by the Leibniz SAW grant (PI S.Berdyugina)
  • telescopes: copies of DIPOL-2 have been deployed at the KVA60 (La Palma), WHT (La Palma, visiting instrument), UH2.2m (Mauna Kea, visiting instrument), T60 (Haleakala), UTAS130 (Tasmania);
  • science: to measure geometrical albedo of exoplanets using polarimetry and characterize their atmosphere and cloud composition.


    • @DHarrington

    InnoPol+AO

  • Innovative Polarimeter: imaging polarimeter combined with the Hokupa'a-85 curvature Adaptive Optics (AO) system and fast EM CCD;
    wavelength range 550-950nm, FOV 3"x3", image resolution 30mas at 600nm;
    designed and built in cooperation between Leibniz-Institut fuer Sonnenphysik (KIS), Germany, and IfA/Maui, University of Hawaii, USA (Harrington et al. 2014);
    funded by the Leibniz SAW grant (PI S.Berdyugina)
  • telescope: the 3.7m AEOS telescope (Haleakala), currently under final commissioning;
  • science: to search for and characterize planetosimals in protoplanetary disks, to investigate atmospheres of Solar system planetary bodies.