Imaging Polarimetry with IRCAM3
A Guide for Data Acquisition and Data Reduction

This document describes the use of IRPOL2 in conjunction with the facility near-IR camera IRCAM3, for obtaining imaging polarimetry observations of both point sources (e.g. stars, distant galaxies) as well as extended/nebulous objects (e.g. reflection nebulae, nearby galaxies).

IRPOL2 was recently redesigned and built by the University of Hertfordshire for the UKIRT. Further details of the design characteristics of the polarimetry module and its corresponding optics can be found in the IRPOL2 document (IRPOL2 Document : 1.0). The acquisition of IRCAM3 imaging polarimetry data, as well as their reduction, at the telescope are described in the following sections.

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