• A. N. Ramaprakash
  • C. V. Rajarshi
  • H. K. Das
  • P. Khodade
  • D. Modi
  • G. Panopoulou
  • S. Maharana
  • E. Angelakis
  • C. Casadio
  • L. Fuhrmann
  • T. Hovatta
  • S. Kiehlmann
  • O. G. King
  • N. Kylafis
  • A. Kougentakis
  • A. Kus
  • A. Mahabal
  • A. Marecki
  • I. Myserlis
  • G. Paterakis
  • E. Paleologou
  • I. Liodakis
  • I. Papadakis
  • I. Papamastorakis
  • V. Pavlidou
  • E. Pazderski
  • T. J. Pearson
  • A. C. S. Readhead
  • P. Reig
  • A. Słowikowska
  • K. Tassis
  • J. A. Zensus
We present the design and performance of RoboPol, a four-channel optical polarimeter operating at the Skinakas Observatory in Crete, Greece. RoboPol is capable of measuring both relative linear Stokes parameters q and u (and the total intensity I) in one sky exposure. Though primarily used to measure the polarization of point sources in the R band, the instrument features additional filters (B, V, and I), enabling multiwavelength imaging polarimetry over a large field of view (13.6' × 13.6'). We demonstrate the accuracy and stability of the instrument throughout its 5 yr of operation. Best performance is achieved within the central region of the field of view and in the R band. For such measurements the systematic uncertainty is below 0.1 per cent in fractional linear polarization, p (0.05 per cent maximum likelihood). Throughout all observing seasons the instrumental polarization varies within 0.1 per cent in p and within ˜1° in polarization angle.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2355-2366
Number of pages12
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume485
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2019

    Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

    Research areas

  • Instrumentation: polarimeters, Techniques: polarimetric, CALIBRATION, GAMMA-RAY-LOUD, WHITE-DWARFS, DEVICE, LINEAR-POLARIZATION, WOLLASTON, instrumentation: polarimeters, VARIABILITY, CONNECTION, POLARIZATION-PLANE ROTATIONS, BLAZARS, techniques: polarimetric

ID: 42190959