(Back to my astronomy research page)
Polarimetry sheet rotation device
Hardware description
The device above was used to position a Polaroid HR Linear/IR sheet immediately in front of the field lens, at
non-cryogenic conditions. Its principle transmittances in the J band are
k1=0.630, k2=7.08×10-5,
so it was very effective in this band.
The device could be commanded, from the control room, to advance through successive orientations. This timesaving feature
helped minimize the effects of atmospheric polarization changes.
I designed this using CAD software, and fabricated the entire device myself.
(Notice anything odd about this image? Something I snuck past my examining committee....)
(Back to my astronomy research page)