2020: Portable spectro-polarimeter, capable of measuring polar aurorae in the optical domain between 427.8 and 630 nm.
ASPA (AOTF-based Spectro-Polarimeter for Auroras) is a portable instrument, capable of measuring in the optical domain between 427.8 and 630 nm. The auroral light is measured in four linear polarization directions, at 0°, 45°, 90° and 135°. For this, a double AOTF system is used.
The optics and electronics are housed inside a mechanical enclosure containing a heating system in order to keep the temperature at a comfortable level during outside operation in winter conditions. BIRA-IASB’s Engineering service developed this instrument in-house in close collaboration with the scientists.
Delivery year: 2020
ASPA instrument after integration in a climatized box
CAD (computer-aided design) model of ASPA
Setting up ASPA for a night of observation in the dome of the observatory of Skibotn.
All details in the following articles:
- Studying Earth’s magnetic field by looking at the aurora
A team of BIRA-IASB scientists and an engineer travelled to Norway in order to test two instruments capable of detecting the polarisation of the Aurora light. - ASPA: the making of (personal account by Emmanuel Dekemper)
Emmanuel Dekemper's personal account of the BIRA-IASB team's mission to Norway. In February, a few scientists and an engineer travelled above the Arctic circle in order to test ASPA and PLIP, instruments capable of studying light polarisation. - Aurora Borealis brought to light
Aurora can be studied by investigating the polarisation of the observed light with the polarimeter instrument ASPA based on passive optical filtering.
