Abstract
We have measured the linear polarization induced in a beam of submillimeter radiation when it is obliquely reflected by a flat mirror made of aluminum alloy. For angles of incidence in the range 15°–45°, we measured induced polarizations in the range 0.05%–0.25%. Our measurements are within a factor of 2 of theoretical predictions. We conclude that astronomical telescopes that incorporate oblique reflections from good conductors will not introduce spurious polarizations large enough to cause significant problems for submillimeter polarimetric observations.
© 1998 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
Bülent A. Mehmetli, Kunimitsu Takahashi, and Shunichi Sato
Appl. Opt. 35(18) 3237-3242 (1996)
H. Li, C. D. Dowell, L. Kirby, G. Novak, and J. E. Vaillancourt
Appl. Opt. 47(3) 422-430 (2008)
E. Serabyn, E. W. Weisstein, D. C. Lis, and J. R. Pardo
Appl. Opt. 37(12) 2185-2198 (1998)