Studies in Astronomical Polarimetry: II. A Double Beam Polarimeter

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Abstract
The early part of the paper describes a single beam polarimeter, which essentially was a D.C. photometer preceded by a polaroid filter. This instrument was used in the laboratory to investigate some effects which control the gain of a photomultiplier. It was also used on the telescope but only few significant results were obtained because of the effects of atmospheric scintillation. Valuable experience was gained by using this instrument and this was applied when the double beam instrument was designed and constructed. This double beam polarimeter incorporated a new form of analysing prism. Measurements were made on celestial objects by two techniques, D.C. amplification and pulse counting photometry, the latter method allowing scintillation compensation.

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