Polarization analysis of the advanced x-ray astrophysical facility telescope assembly

Daniel M. Brown; Russell A. Chipman

doi:10.1117/12.22075

1 October 1990 Polarization analysis of the advanced x-ray astrophysical facility telescope assembly

Daniel M. Brown, Russell A. Chipman

Proceedings Volume 1317, Polarimetry: Radar, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, and X-Ray; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.22075
Event: Polarimetry '90, 1990, Huntsville, AL, United States

Abstract

The Advanced X-ray Astrophysical Facility (AXAF) telescope consists of six concentric paraboloid-hyperboloid pairs of mirrors operating near grazing incidence. Because of the substantial polarization effects at large angles of incidence, there is concern about the feasibility of polarimetry near the focal plane. The primary mirror acts as a tangentially directed half-wave linear retarder and nearly completely depolarizes the linearly polarized component of the light. The secondary mirror introduces an additional half wave of linear retardance. The tangentially directed one-wave linear retarder leaves the transmitted beam in the incident polarization state. The net instrumental polarization effects are small, and polarimetry is feasible with the AXAF.

Citation Download Citation

Daniel M. Brown and Russell A. Chipman "Polarization analysis of the advanced x-ray astrophysical facility telescope assembly", Proc. SPIE 1317, Polarimetry: Radar, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, and X-Ray, (1 October 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.22075

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