Calibration of the liquid crystal visible-light polarimeter for the Metis/Solar Orbiter coronagraph

M. Casti; S. Fineschi; G. Capobianco; F. Landini; M. Romoli; E. Antonucci; V. Andretta; G. Naletto; G. Nicolini; D. Spadaro; A. Alvarez-Herrero; P. Garcia-Parejo; M. Marmonti

doi:10.1117/12.2325075

30 July 2018 Calibration of the liquid crystal visible-light polarimeter for the Metis/Solar Orbiter coronagraph

M. Casti, S. Fineschi, G. Capobianco, F. Landini, M. Romoli, E. Antonucci, V. Andretta, G. Naletto, G. Nicolini, D. Spadaro, A. Alvarez-Herrero, P. Garcia-Parejo, M. Marmonti

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10698, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 1069831 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2325075
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

Metis is the solar coronagraph selected for the payload of the ESA Solar Orbiter mission. Metis will acquire simultaneous imaging in linearly polarized, broadband visible light (580-640 nm) and in the narrow-band HI Ly-α line (121.6 nm). The METIS visible light path includes a polarimeter, designed to observe and analyse the K-corona linearly polarized by Thomson scattering. The polarimeter comprises a liquid crystal Polarization Modulation Package (PMP) together with a quarter-wave retarder and a linear polarizer. The Metis PMP consists of two Anti-Parallel Nematic Liquid Crystal Variable Retarders (LCVRs) with their fast axis parallel with respect to each other and a pre-tilted angle of the molecules in opposite direction. The LCVRs provide an electro-optical modulation of the input polarized light by applying an electric field to the liquid crystal molecules inside the cells. A given optical retardance can be induced in the LCVRs by selecting a suitable voltage value. This presentation will report the polarimetric characterization of the Flight Model of the Metis polarimeter and the voltage-to-retardance calibration.

Citation Download Citation

M. Casti, S. Fineschi, G. Capobianco, F. Landini, M. Romoli, E. Antonucci, V. Andretta, G. Naletto, G. Nicolini, D. Spadaro, A. Alvarez-Herrero, P. Garcia-Parejo, and M. Marmonti "Calibration of the liquid crystal visible-light polarimeter for the Metis/Solar Orbiter coronagraph", Proc. SPIE 10698, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 1069831 (30 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2325075

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