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| Paper: |
First Science Results from the High Speed SAAO Photo-polarimeter |
| Volume: |
449, Astronomical Polarimetry 2008: Science from Small to Large Telescopes |
| Page: |
27 |
| Authors: |
Potter, S.; Buckley, D.; O'Donoghue, D.; O'Connor, J.; Fourie, P.; Evans, G.; Sass, C.; Crause, L.; Butters, O.; Norton, A.; Mukai, K.; Still, M. |
| Abstract: |
We report on the completion of a new 2 channel, HIgh speed
Photo-POlarimeter (HIPPO) to be used on the 1.9 m optical telescope of
the South African Astronomical Observatory. The instrument makes use
of rapidly counter-rotating (10 Hz), super-achromatic half and quarter
wave-plates, a fixed Glan-Thompson beamsplitter and two
photo-multiplier tubes that record the modulated O and E beams. Each
modulated beam permits an independent measurement of the polarization
and therefore the capability of simultaneous 2 filter
observations. All Stokes parameters are recorded every 0.1 s and
photometry every 1 ms. Post-binning of data is possible in
order to improve the signal. This is ideal for measuring, e.g., the
rapid variability of the optical polarization from magnetic
Cataclysmic Variable stars (mCVs). We will present our first science
results made in February 2008. Specifically the discovery of short
quasi-periodic (∼ 3–5 minutes) variations in the circular polarized
emissions from the recently discovered mCV candidate IGRJ14536-5522. |
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