1. RoboPol
- Author
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Ramaprakash, A. N., Rajarshi, C. V., Das, H. K., Khodade, P., Modi, D., Panopoulou, G., Maharana, S., Blinov, D., Angelakis, E., Casadio, C., Fuhrmann, L., Hovatta, T., Kiehlmann, S., King, O. G., Kylafis, N., Kougentakis, A., Kus, A., Mahabal, A., Marecki, A., Myserlis, I., Paterakis, G., Paleologou, E., Liodakis, I., Papadakis, I., Papamastorakis, I., Pavlidou, V., Pazderski, E., Pearson, T. J., Readhead, A. C.S., Reig, P., Słowikowska, A., Tassis, K., Zensus, J. A., Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics India, California Institute of Technology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Metsähovi Radio Observatory, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Stanford University, Aalto-yliopisto, and Aalto University
- Subjects
polarimeters [Instrumentation] ,polarimetric [Techniques] - Abstract
We present the design and performance of RoboPol, a four-channel optical polarimeter operating at the Skinakas Observatory in Crete, Greece. RoboPol is capable of measuring both relative linear Stokes parameters q and u (and the total intensity I) in one sky exposure. Though primarily used to measure the polarization of point sources in the R band, the instrument features additional filters (B, V, and I), enabling multiwavelength imaging polarimetry over a large field of view (13.6 × 13.6). We demonstrate the accuracy and stability of the instrument throughout its 5 yr of operation. Best performance is achieved within the central region of the field of view and in the R band. For such measurements the systematic uncertainty is below 0.1 per cent in fractional linear polarization, p (0.05 per cent maximum likelihood). Throughout all observing seasons the instrumental polarization varies within 0.1 per cent in p and within ∼1◦ in polarization angle.
- Published
- 2019