Conceptual design of a fast soft x-ray stellar polarimeter

Herman L. Marshall

doi:10.1117/12.193206

7 November 1994 Conceptual design of a fast soft x-ray stellar polarimeter

Herman L. Marshall

Proceedings Volume 2283, X-Ray and Ultraviolet Spectroscopy and Polarimetry; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.193206
Event: SPIE's 1994 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1994, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Multilayer coatings make it possible to create soft x-ray (0.25 keV) optics with large graze angles which are necessary for designing efficient polarimeters. If the detector is placed out of focus, then stellar images will take the shape of the front aperture, which would show intensity variations if the source is polarized. Two basic designs are considered. The first uses a single parabolic optic with graze angles from 25 degree(s) to 40 degree(s) and the second uses a Cassegrain telescope with angles centered at 45 degree(s). The former gives higher reflectivity at the expense of wide-field imaging, which may be sacrificed when the source region is not crowded, while the second telescope allows for off-axis use as a spectropolarimeter but has reduced throughput. A simple imaging proportional counter would be used as a detector and the overall sensitivity of the first design would be high enough to measure the polarization of the bright BL Lac object, PKS 2155-304, to an accuracy of 3% during a rocket flight. A small satellite would be capable of measuring several hundred polarizations with an uncertainty of 1% per year.

Citation Download Citation

Herman L. Marshall "Conceptual design of a fast soft x-ray stellar polarimeter", Proc. SPIE 2283, X-Ray and Ultraviolet Spectroscopy and Polarimetry, (7 November 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.193206

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available