The TURPOL page

TurPol is not a common-user instrument. Normal support at the telescope is provided, but only limited trouble-shooting can be made by NOT staff.

Turpol Operations Manual:
Gzipped Postscript (355kb) HTML (NB! Old version from 1999!) Use the links below. Procedures have changed.
General Turpol info:
Turpol Schematic Layout
Principle of Operation
UBVRI bands from dichroic mirrors
Diaphragms and Neutral density filters
Signal to Noise Plot
Photos of Turpol
Observing with Turpol:
Start-up in the evening
Linear polarimetry or Circular polarimetry or Photometry
How to observe and How to use the ST-4 for diaphragm viewing.
Trouble shooting
Close-down in the morning
Data analysis:
Unpolarised standards
High (linear) polarisation standards
Unpolarised/Polarised standard stars (ps file) and fields (ps file) from Turnshek et al. 1990, AJ 99, 1243. See also SOFA.

Example of data acquisition file
Data reduction manual and programs. New addendum for circular polarimetry mode: Manual and programs

A few useful reference papers
Staff set-up procedures (Staff only!):
Mounting TURPOL
Dismounting TURPOL
Set-up during first night
TurPol Cooler Manual
Instructions on how to mount TurPol filters
Polarization standard star project (2008-2009)

Last modified: 05-Nov-2009