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| Paper: |
High Accuracy Imaging Polarimetry with NICMOS |
| Volume: |
449, Astronomical Polarimetry 2008: Science from Small to Large Telescopes |
| Page: |
44 |
| Authors: |
Batcheldor, D.; Schneider, G.; Hines, D. C.; Schmidt, G. D.; Axon, D. J.; Robinson, A.; Sparks, W.; Tadhunter, C. |
| Abstract: |
The ability of NICMOS to perform high accuracy polarimetry is currently hampered by an uncalibrated residual instrumental polarization
at a level of 1.2–1.5%. To better quantify and characterize this residual we obtained observations of three polarimetric standard
stars at three separate space-craft roll angles. Combined with archival data, these observations were used to characterize the residual
instrumental polarization to enable NICMOS to reach its full polarimetric potential. Using these data, we calculate values of the parallel
transmission coefficients that reproduce the ground-based results for the polarimetric standards. The uncertainties associated with the
parallel transmission coefficients, a result of the photometric repeatability of the observations, dominate the accuracy of p and
θ. However, the new coefficients now enable imaging polarimetry of targets with p≈1.0% at an accuracy of
±0.6% and ±15°. |
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