Abstract:
A polarimeter for the study of astronomical objects has been developed and calibrated. Observations of several objects have been made. The polarimeter covers the spectral range from 3150 A to 8500 A in standard N, U, B, V, R, I bands. Alternatively, narrow band filters between 3150 A and 8500 A can also be used. The instrument is capable of measuring polarizations down to 0.3% with an error of 0.03% for objects of fifth magnitude on a 1-m telescope. The instrument has a microprocessor-controlled data acquistion system with on-line processing capabilities. In addition to affecting polarization measurements, the instrument can also be used as a photometer.
