Full characterization of the instrumental polarization effects of the spectropolarimetric mode of SCExAO/CHARIS

Joost G.J. Hart, Rob G. Van Holstein, Steven P. Bos, Jasper Ruigrok, Frans Snik, Julien Lozi, Olivier Guyon, Tomoyuki Kudo, Jin Zhang, Nemanja Jovanovic, Barnaby Norris, Marc Antoine Martinod, Tyler D. Groff, Jeffrey Chilcote, Thayne Currie, Motohide Tamura, Sébastien Vievard, Ananya Sahoo, Vincent Deo, Kyohoon AhnFrantz Martinache, Jeremy Kasdin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

SCExAO at the Subaru telescope is a visible and near-infrared high-contrast imaging instrument employing extreme adaptive optics and coronagraphy. The instrument feeds the near-infrared light (JHK) to the integralfield spectrograph CHARIS. The spectropolarimetric capability of CHARIS is enabled by a Wollaston prism and is unique among high-contrast imagers. We present a detailed Mueller matrix model describing the instrumental polarization effects of the complete optical path, thus the telescope and instrument. From measurements with the internal light source, we find that the image derotator (K-mirror) produces strongly wavelength-dependent crosstalk, in the worst case converting â1/495% of the incident linear polarization to circularly polarized light that cannot be measured. Observations of an unpolarized star show that the magnitude of the instrumental polarization of the telescope varies with wavelength between 0.5% and 1%, and that its angle is exactly equal to the altitude angle of the telescope. Using physical models of the fold mirror of the telescope, the half-wave plate, and the derotator, we simultaneously fit the instrumental polarization effects in the 22 wavelength bins. Over the full wavelength range, our model currently reaches a total polarimetric accuracy between 0.08% and 0.24% in the degree of linear polarization. We propose additional calibration measurements to improve the polarimetric accuracy to <0.1% and plan to integrate the complete Mueller matrix model into the existing CHARIS post-processing pipeline. Our calibrations of CHARIS' spectropolarimetric mode will enable unique quantitative polarimetric studies of circumstellar disks and planetary and brown dwarf companions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPolarization Science and Remote Sensing X
EditorsMeredith K. Kupinski, Joseph A. Shaw, Frans Snik
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510645042
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
EventPolarization Science and Remote Sensing X 2021 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 1 2021Aug 5 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11833
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferencePolarization Science and Remote Sensing X 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period8/1/218/5/21

Keywords

  • Based on data collected at Subaru Telescope
  • which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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