The HPOL Spectropolarimeter

The HPOL spectropolarimeter is a modified Boller and Chivens small telescope spectrograph. The system provides simultaneous spectrophotometry and spectropolarimetry over the range of 3200A to 10500A (prior to 1995, the spectral range was 3200A to 7750A), with a spectral resolution of 10A (25A prior to 1995). The halfwave plate is a super-achromatic half-wave retarder. The wave plate is rotated by a stepper motor and rack and pinion drive, with stops every 11.25 degrees. A Wollaston prism produces two orthogonally polarized beams (ordinary and extraordinary) separated perpendicular to the dispersion. The ultraviolet achromatic camera is specifically designed for this instrument. The camera is all-refractive, which eliminates vignetting and thus enhances the polarimetric stability. The image is focused on a 400 X 1200 pixel CCD. The instrument is installed on one of two telescopes. Primarily, it is installed as a dedicated intrument to the 36" telescope at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Pine Bluff Observatory (PBO). HPOL was also mounted on the 3.5 m WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory for limited observational runs once a year or so. HPOL has been down since October 2004 due to hardware problems.

Fits files for HPOL data taken from 1989 through 1994 can be obtained from the Multimission Archive at STScI .

HPOL Programs

Interstellar Medium (ISM)
Be Stars (Be) -

The HPOL target database was last updated July 30, 2008.
HPOL currently resides on the 36" telescope at Pine Bluff Observatory.

Primary contact people

• HPOL creator: Dr. Kenneth H. Nordsieck
• Data manager: Brian L. Babler
• Data manager: Marilyn R. Meade

Space Astronomy Laboratory
1150 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: 608-263-4680, Fax: 608-263-0361.

For comments or information about this site please contact the SAL staff at this address (webmaster@sal.wisc.edu)