Characterization of materials for a vacuum-ultraviolet polarization analyzer.
Astronomical measurements in the vacuum-UV spectral region (30-190 nm) require space instruments and techniques that are at the boundary between visible and x-ray techniques. In vacuum-UV polarimetry, transmission polarizers must be replaced by reflection polarizers because of the lack of transparent materials in the 30-105-nm range. The general features of a single reflection polarization analyzer for the vacuum UV are introduced and described, with particular emphasis on astrophysical applications. In particular, we discuss the trade-off conditions for optimum polarization and throughput of a single-reflection surface in the vacuum UV, introducing a quality factor parameter. The polarization performances of various reflecting materials are obtained with a reflecting vacuum-UV polarization analyzer laboratory model designed and built to measure the state of linear polarization. On the basis of a comparison of the quality factors, calcium fluoride is determined to be the best-performing material. Finally, we discuss the laboratory polarimetric characterization of the material properties for astronomical application of the polarization analyzer.
Corti
Gianni
G
Dipartimento di Astronomia e Scienza dello Spasio, Università di Firenze, Largo Fermi 2, 50125 Florence, Italy. corti@arcetri.astro.it
Romoli
Marco
M