MOPTOP - prototyping a new approach to high time resolution, multi-wavelength optical polarimetry

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Optical polarimetry is a probe of physical and magnetic field geometries in many otherwise spatially unresolved astronomical sources. Polarization is now taking a leading role as a key diagnostic of physical conditions (for example magnetic field strength/order/geometry and relativistic plasma dynamics) in time variable sources such as blazars, active galactic nuclei, x-ray binaries and gamma ray bursts (GRBs). In these high energy sources, polarization allows astronomers to probe the physical conditions at spatial scales that will never be accessible to direct imaging observations. At LJMU we have led the application of polarization to time variable sources. Here we propose a programme to develop a new concept in multi-wavelength, optimized time resolved optical polarimetry (MOPTOP). The work builds on a 2012 (1 year) PRD programme which developed a multi-band optical polarimeter for time domain studies (RINGO3). MOPTOP combines novel concepts from that design with new, low-cost, high-sensitivity sCMOS detectors and a dual beam design to develop a concept that combines a wide, un-confused field of view with maximal sensitivity and low systematic errors.MOPTOP is currently at TRL 3 (we have tested one key component of the design - namely the fast synchronization of two sCMOS cameras). In this proposal we request funding of ~£171k to increase the instrument TRL to 7 (a prototype tested and operational on a telescope). The increased sensitivity of the instrument will allow access to sources down to 19th magnitude (at 2% error) on a 2.0 metre class telescope. The design should also have much lower systematics (<0.1%) allowing greater utility for weakly polarized sources, and a 4 times wider field of view enabling rapid follow-up of poorly localized transient sources. The prototype will be tested on the 2.0m Liverpool Telescope (La Palma) and/or the 2.4 metre NARIT telescope (Thailand). We do not envisage protectable IP will arise from the project and consequently will make the instrument design fully public domain, with the aim of encouraging copies to be placed on other facilities around the world.