Me and my instrument:


First light on my Dual Beam Imaging Polarimeter (DBIP)...yay


First light...out of focus (click for FITS)



Now in focus (click for FITS)


A technical description of DBIP can be found in the Commissioning Paper.

For observing techniques, previous results, etc, check the UH 88inch Wiki (Internal to IfA only).

In August 2007, a quarter-wave plate was installed in series with the half-wave plate and Savart plate,
allowing for simultaneous measurement of linear and circular polarization (Stokes Q, U & V vectors).
A description of the extended calibrations can be found in the Followup Paper.

Science observations with DBIP began in January 2008.

The first science paper based on DBIP observations was recently accepted to Icarus!
The paper discusses the polarization properties of the asteroid (387) Aquitania, which we found to be
another of a small group of unusual objects and confirming the relation between the presence of spinel
in the asteroid spectrum and the usual polarization. Both of these properties are believed to indicate
surfaces with large concentrations of CAIs, which were one of the first things to form as the proto-solar
nebula cooled. This would mean the surfaces of these asteroids have remained unchanged since the beginning
of the Solar System, unlike all the other objects in the Main Belt.

A PDF version of the paper can be found here: Aquitania paper



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