Calibration of a ground-based solar coronal polarimeter

David F. Elmore; Joan T. Burkepile; J. Anthony Darnell; Alice R. Lecinski; Andrew L. Stanger

doi:10.1117/12.459279

Calibration of a ground-based solar coronal polarimeter

David F. Elmore
, Joan T. Burkepile
, J. Anthony Darnell
, Alice R. Lecinski
, Andrew L. Stanger

Mauna Loa Solar Observatory

National Center for Atmospheric Research

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Mk4 K-coronameter records polarization brightness images of the solar corona from the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, Hawaii, USA. Calibration is required to quantitatively measure coronal polarization brightness, which in turn is used to infer coronal electron density. Matrix techniques are used to map the instrument polarization response. Brightness scaling depends upon precise knowledge of properties of an opal glass attenuator and calibration polarizer, sky transmission, and telescope pointing. In addition, account must be made for polarization at the objective lens and from the terrestrial atmosphere. Calibration parameters are stable to a few percent over a day, but when coupled with uncertainties in calibration optics values, sky transmission, and pointing, the average measurement uncertainty is ±15%±6×10^-9 pB/B_Sun.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	66-75
Number of pages	10
Journal	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	4843
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459279
State	Published - 2002
Event	Polarimetry in Astronomy - Waikoloa, HI, United States Duration: Aug 25 2002 → Aug 28 2002

Keywords

Polarimeter
Solar coronagraph

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10.1117/12.459279

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@article{69d6b39b40d243fa8485c791f5845a93,

title = "Calibration of a ground-based solar coronal polarimeter",

abstract = "The Mk4 K-coronameter records polarization brightness images of the solar corona from the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, Hawaii, USA. Calibration is required to quantitatively measure coronal polarization brightness, which in turn is used to infer coronal electron density. Matrix techniques are used to map the instrument polarization response. Brightness scaling depends upon precise knowledge of properties of an opal glass attenuator and calibration polarizer, sky transmission, and telescope pointing. In addition, account must be made for polarization at the objective lens and from the terrestrial atmosphere. Calibration parameters are stable to a few percent over a day, but when coupled with uncertainties in calibration optics values, sky transmission, and pointing, the average measurement uncertainty is ±15\%±6×10-9 pB/BSun.",

keywords = "Polarimeter, Solar coronagraph",

author = "Elmore, \{David F.\} and Burkepile, \{Joan T.\} and Darnell, \{J. Anthony\} and Lecinski, \{Alice R.\} and Stanger, \{Andrew L.\}",

year = "2002",

doi = "10.1117/12.459279",

language = "English",

volume = "4843",

pages = "66--75",

journal = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

issn = "0277-786X",

publisher = "SPIE",

note = "Polarimetry in Astronomy ; Conference date: 25-08-2002 Through 28-08-2002",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Calibration of a ground-based solar coronal polarimeter

AU - Elmore, David F.

AU - Burkepile, Joan T.

AU - Darnell, J. Anthony

AU - Lecinski, Alice R.

AU - Stanger, Andrew L.

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - The Mk4 K-coronameter records polarization brightness images of the solar corona from the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, Hawaii, USA. Calibration is required to quantitatively measure coronal polarization brightness, which in turn is used to infer coronal electron density. Matrix techniques are used to map the instrument polarization response. Brightness scaling depends upon precise knowledge of properties of an opal glass attenuator and calibration polarizer, sky transmission, and telescope pointing. In addition, account must be made for polarization at the objective lens and from the terrestrial atmosphere. Calibration parameters are stable to a few percent over a day, but when coupled with uncertainties in calibration optics values, sky transmission, and pointing, the average measurement uncertainty is ±15%±6×10-9 pB/BSun.

AB - The Mk4 K-coronameter records polarization brightness images of the solar corona from the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, Hawaii, USA. Calibration is required to quantitatively measure coronal polarization brightness, which in turn is used to infer coronal electron density. Matrix techniques are used to map the instrument polarization response. Brightness scaling depends upon precise knowledge of properties of an opal glass attenuator and calibration polarizer, sky transmission, and telescope pointing. In addition, account must be made for polarization at the objective lens and from the terrestrial atmosphere. Calibration parameters are stable to a few percent over a day, but when coupled with uncertainties in calibration optics values, sky transmission, and pointing, the average measurement uncertainty is ±15%±6×10-9 pB/BSun.

KW - Polarimeter

KW - Solar coronagraph

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0038748476

U2 - 10.1117/12.459279

DO - 10.1117/12.459279

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:0038748476

SN - 0277-786X

VL - 4843

SP - 66

EP - 75

JO - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

JF - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

T2 - Polarimetry in Astronomy

Y2 - 25 August 2002 through 28 August 2002

ER -

Calibration of a ground-based solar coronal polarimeter

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Keywords

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