The RoboPol sample of optical polarimetric standards
Journal article, 2023
Context. Optical polarimeters are typically calibrated using measurements of stars with known and stable polarization parameters. However, there is a lack of such stars available across the sky. Many of the currently available standards are not suitable for medium and large telescopes due to their high brightness. Moreover, as we find, some of the polarimetric standards used are in fact variable or have polarization parameters that differ from their cataloged values. Aims. Our goal is to establish a sample of stable standards suitable for calibrating linear optical polarimeters with an accuracy down to 10-3 in fractional polarization. Methods. For 4 yr, we have been running a monitoring campaign of a sample of standard candidates comprised of 107 stars distributed across the northern sky. We analyzed the variability of the linear polarization of these stars, taking into account the non-Gaussian nature of fractional polarization measurements. For a subsample of nine stars, we also performed multiband polarization measurements. Results. We created a new catalog of 65 stars (see Table 2) that are stable, have small uncertainties of measured polarimetric parameters, and can be used as calibrators of polarimeters at medium and large telescopes.
Techniques: polarimetric
Polarization
Standards
Author
D. Blinov
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
University of Crete
S. Maharana
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
South African Astronomical Observatory
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
F. Bouzelou
University of Crete
C. Casadio
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
E. Gjerløw
University of Oslo
J. Jormanainen
University of Turku
S. Kiehlmann
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
University of Crete
J. A. Kypriotakis
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
I. Liodakis
University of Turku
N. Mandarakas
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
L. Markopoulioti
University of Crete
Georgia Panopoulou
Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics
V. Pelgrims
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
A. Pouliasi
University of California
S. Romanopoulos
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
R. Skalidis
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
R. M. Anche
University of Arizona
South African Astronomical Observatory
E. Angelakis
University of Athens
J. Antoniadis
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
B. J. Medhi
Gauhati University
T. Hovatta
University of Turku
Andrzej J. Kus
Nicolaus Copernicus University
N. Kylafis
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
A. Mahabal
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
I. Myserlis
Max Planck Society
Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM)
E. Paleologou
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
University of Crete
I. Papadakis
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
V. Pavlidou
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
University of Crete
I. Papamastorakis
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
T. J. Pearson
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
S. B. Potter
University of Johannesburg
South African Astronomical Observatory
A. N. Ramaprakash
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
A. C.S. Readhead
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
P. Reig
University of Crete
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
A. Słowikowska
Nicolaus Copernicus University
Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry European Research Infrastructure Consortium (JIVE)
Konstantinos Tassis
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH)
University of Crete
A.J. Zensus
Max Planck Society
Astronomy and Astrophysics
0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)
Vol. 677 A144Subject Categories
Remote Sensing
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/202346778