Developments are underway to enhanced the spectropolarimetry mode of the SOFIN spectrograph, including a new cross-dispersion prism with higher refraction index for a larger separation of echelle orders necessary to record two polarized beams in one exposure. A new calcite will replace the old beam-splitter for the larger separation of the polarized beams. The commissioning of the new spectrograph elements are planned in June and September of 2003.
Further modifications of the polarimetry mode will possibly include the replacement of the quarter wave plate to improve the achromatic properties, and the design of the additional fixed but removable quarter wave plate in order to increase the amplitude contrast of the linear polarization modulation curve and increase the signal/noise of these polarization features.
Mechanical modifications are considered to minimize ghosting, and to accommodate the installation of a more sensitive Loral CCD with the low resolution camera.
Also, a new C++/Linux software code is in development for the optimal extraction and analysis of the polarized spectra.