The Polstar UV Spectropolarimetry Mission

Jeremy J. Drake; Paul A. Scowen; Robert A. Woodruff; Kenneth Gayley; Richard Ignace; Christiana Erba; Roberto Casini; Kathleen Coderre; Kirstin D. Doney; Samantha Edgington

doi:10.1117/12.3065923

The Polstar UV Spectropolarimetry Mission

Jeremy J. Drake
, Paul A. Scowen
, Robert A. Woodruff
, Kenneth Gayley
, Richard Ignace
, Christiana Erba
, Roberto Casini
, Kathleen Coderre
, Kirstin D. Doney
, Samantha Edgington

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

We present the Polstar SMEX mission concept, a far-ultraviolet spectropolarimeter operating in the 115-285 nm range capturing all four Stokes parameters (IQUV) at a spectral resolution of 20,000, which is equivalent to a velocity resolution of 15 km/s. Polstar investigates the astrophysical processes driven by rapid rotation and their impact on the properties, evolution, and compact object remnants of massive stars. Polstar's projected launch would be around 2031, observing 200 or more stars to meet its scientific goals. Polstar is designed to be a generally applicable high-resolution FUV spectrometer, providing for a vigorous and scientifically diverse Guest Observer program in an extended mission phase.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV
Editors	Oswald H. Siegmund, Keri Hoadley
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510691582
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3065923
State	Published - Sep 18 2025
Externally published	Yes
Event	24th UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy - San Diego, United States Duration: Aug 5 2025 → Aug 7 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	13625
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	24th UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Diego
Period	08/5/25 → 08/7/25

Keywords

binaries
Explorer
massive stars
polarimetry
spectroscopy
ultraviolet light

Access to Document

10.1117/12.3065923

Cite this

Drake, J. J., Scowen, P. A., Woodruff, R. A., Gayley, K., Ignace, R., Erba, C., Casini, R., Coderre, K., Doney, K. D., & Edgington, S. (2025). The Polstar UV Spectropolarimetry Mission. In O. H. Siegmund, & K. Hoadley (Eds.), UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV Article 1362509 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13625). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3065923

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title = "The Polstar UV Spectropolarimetry Mission",

abstract = "We present the Polstar SMEX mission concept, a far-ultraviolet spectropolarimeter operating in the 115-285 nm range capturing all four Stokes parameters (IQUV) at a spectral resolution of 20,000, which is equivalent to a velocity resolution of 15 km/s. Polstar investigates the astrophysical processes driven by rapid rotation and their impact on the properties, evolution, and compact object remnants of massive stars. Polstar's projected launch would be around 2031, observing 200 or more stars to meet its scientific goals. Polstar is designed to be a generally applicable high-resolution FUV spectrometer, providing for a vigorous and scientifically diverse Guest Observer program in an extended mission phase.",

keywords = "binaries, Explorer, massive stars, polarimetry, spectroscopy, ultraviolet light",

author = "Drake, \{Jeremy J.\} and Scowen, \{Paul A.\} and Woodruff, \{Robert A.\} and Kenneth Gayley and Richard Ignace and Christiana Erba and Roberto Casini and Kathleen Coderre and Doney, \{Kirstin D.\} and Samantha Edgington",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1117/12.3065923",

language = "English",

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

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Siegmund, \{Oswald H.\} and Keri Hoadley",

booktitle = "UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV",

address = "United States",

}

Drake, JJ, Scowen, PA, Woodruff, RA, Gayley, K, Ignace, R, Erba, C, Casini, R, Coderre, K, Doney, KD & Edgington, S 2025, The Polstar UV Spectropolarimetry Mission. in OH Siegmund & K Hoadley (eds), UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV., 1362509, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 13625, SPIE, 24th UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy, San Diego, United States, 08/5/25. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3065923

The Polstar UV Spectropolarimetry Mission. / Drake, Jeremy J.; Scowen, Paul A.; Woodruff, Robert A. et al.
UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV. ed. / Oswald H. Siegmund; Keri Hoadley. SPIE, 2025. 1362509 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13625).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - The Polstar UV Spectropolarimetry Mission

AU - Drake, Jeremy J.

AU - Scowen, Paul A.

AU - Woodruff, Robert A.

AU - Gayley, Kenneth

AU - Ignace, Richard

AU - Erba, Christiana

AU - Casini, Roberto

AU - Coderre, Kathleen

AU - Doney, Kirstin D.

AU - Edgington, Samantha

PY - 2025/9/18

Y1 - 2025/9/18

N2 - We present the Polstar SMEX mission concept, a far-ultraviolet spectropolarimeter operating in the 115-285 nm range capturing all four Stokes parameters (IQUV) at a spectral resolution of 20,000, which is equivalent to a velocity resolution of 15 km/s. Polstar investigates the astrophysical processes driven by rapid rotation and their impact on the properties, evolution, and compact object remnants of massive stars. Polstar's projected launch would be around 2031, observing 200 or more stars to meet its scientific goals. Polstar is designed to be a generally applicable high-resolution FUV spectrometer, providing for a vigorous and scientifically diverse Guest Observer program in an extended mission phase.

AB - We present the Polstar SMEX mission concept, a far-ultraviolet spectropolarimeter operating in the 115-285 nm range capturing all four Stokes parameters (IQUV) at a spectral resolution of 20,000, which is equivalent to a velocity resolution of 15 km/s. Polstar investigates the astrophysical processes driven by rapid rotation and their impact on the properties, evolution, and compact object remnants of massive stars. Polstar's projected launch would be around 2031, observing 200 or more stars to meet its scientific goals. Polstar is designed to be a generally applicable high-resolution FUV spectrometer, providing for a vigorous and scientifically diverse Guest Observer program in an extended mission phase.

KW - binaries

KW - Explorer

KW - massive stars

KW - polarimetry

KW - spectroscopy

KW - ultraviolet light

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024353919

U2 - 10.1117/12.3065923

DO - 10.1117/12.3065923

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105024353919

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV

A2 - Siegmund, Oswald H.

A2 - Hoadley, Keri

PB - SPIE

T2 - 24th UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy

Y2 - 5 August 2025 through 7 August 2025

ER -

The Polstar UV Spectropolarimetry Mission

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Keywords

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