Atacama sub-millimeter telescope experiment polarimeter (APol) I: design and lab-test result

Area of Science:

• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Optical Engineering
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• The Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) is a 10-m aperture telescope.
• Transition edge sensors (TES) are crucial for sensitive astronomical observations.
• Imaging polarimetry requires specialized optical components to maintain image quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE).
• To introduce the "APol" fore-optics module designed for TES cameras.
• To demonstrate APol's capability in creating a sensitive imaging polarimeter.

Main Methods:

• Detailed optical design of the "APol" module.
• Integration of APol with a 271-pixel TES camera operating at 350 GHz.
• Laboratory testing to evaluate performance and image quality.

Main Results:

• Successful conversion of the TES camera into a sensitive imaging polarimeter.
• Preservation of image quality and the 7.5' field of view.
• Preliminary laboratory test results demonstrating functionality.

Conclusions:

• The "APol" module effectively enhances the ASTE's TES camera for polarimetric observations.
• APol enables sensitive imaging polarimetry without compromising optical performance.
• The developed system shows promise for submillimeter astronomical research.