Bibcode
Kubo, M.; Watanabe, H.; Narukage, N.; Ishikawa, R.; Bando, T.; Kano, R.; Tsuneta, S.; Kobayashi, K.; Ichimoto, K.; Trujillo-Bueno, J.; Song, D.
Bibliographical reference
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P11F-1627
Advertised on:
12
2011
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
A sounding-rocket program called the Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha
Spectro-Polarimeter (CLASP) is proposed to be launched in the Summer of
2014. CLASP will observe the upper solar chromosphere in Ly-alpha
(121.567 nm), aiming to detect the linear polarization signal produced
by scattering processes and the Hanle effect for the first time. The
CLASP needs a rotating half-waveplate and a polarization analyzer
working at the Ly-alpha wavelength to measure the linear polarization
signal. We select Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2) as a material of the optical
components because of its birefringent property and high transparency at
UV wavelength. We have confirmed that the reflection at the Brewster's
Angle of MgF2 plate is a good polarization analyzer for the Ly-alpha
line by deriving its ordinary refractive index and extinction
coefficient along the ordinary and extraordinary axes. These optical
parameters are calculated with a least-square fitting in such a way that
the reflectance and transmittance satisfy the Kramers-Kronig relation.
The reflectance and transmittance against oblique incident angles for
the s-polarized and the p-polarized light are measured using the
synchrotron beamline at the Ultraviolet Synchrotron Orbital Radiation
Facility (UVSOR). We have also measured a retardation of a zeroth-order
waveplate made of MgF2. The thickness difference of the waveplate is
14.57 um.This waveplate works as a half-waveplate at 121.74 nm. From
this measurement, we estimate that a waveplate with the thickness
difference of 15.71 um will work as a half-waveplate at the Ly-alpha
wavelength. We have developed a rotating waveplate - polarization
analyzer system called a prototype of CLASP polarimeter, and input the
perfect Stokes Q and U signals. The modulation patterns that are
consistent with the theoretical prediction are successfully obtained in
both cases.