Chapters
Introduction:
- Supernova science, remaining questions that polarimetry can help resolve including progenitor's mass loss
- Other infrared diagnoses of SNe: near to mid-IR photometry and spectroscopy, especially at late time
- Difficulty of polarimetry
WIRC+Pol
- Describe the instrument upgrade: PG, lab test results.
- Commissioning and science verification
- Pipeline development, highlighting the fact that this is a unique data format
- This section will base on the instrument paper, with more info added.
- Instrument paper, first author, submit by May...June 2018
- Instrument upgrade with polarimetric modulator, paper 2?
SN polarization modeling
- Apply either Ji's simple toy model (grid of pre-calculated polarization on a disk, distorted or with obstructions). This is perhaps similar to existing models.
- Apply full radiative transfer code, perhaps Suniti's or Stolker's, if it's applicable.
- SN modeling paper, submit by end of 2018/early 2019 --> a section in a SN paper instead
- Try to show that near-IR spectropolarimetry is less susceptible to both ISP and CSM dust scattering effect.
Add chapter for V*V4332Sgr stellar merger, ~10% polarized, after 2017eaw
(V4332 vs 2014C order)
SN observation, polarization along with other techniques
- SN2017eaw: first near-IR polarization observation; progenitor in near-IR 5 days pre-explosion, paper with Ryan Lau, submit by August 2018
- SN2014C: dust constraint at very late time (> 1500 d) using Gemini+Subaru data in June, paper with Ryan Lau, submit by mid 2019
- Hopefully another bright SN observed with best calibration strategy
Polarization of SN progenitor (tentative)
- Feasibility study of detecting signatures of circumstellar material (CSM) in polarization: if possible, survey MW stars for signs of CSM. This is tied to the modeling work.
- Feasibility study of directly imaging CSM, perhaps with (talk to Nathan Smith?)
- Progenitor CSM polarization paper, end of 2019
SN conclusion: prospect for SN polarization in the future, with emphasis on CSM
Other science cases:
- Brown dwarf survey with WIRC+Pol, one-object papers and survey paper, non-first author
Prospect of PG in future instrument on small/large telescopes
- Some spectrograph ideas
- PG as cross-disperser in TripleSpec-like instrument
- Bragg PG+polarization conversion system: Normal spectrograph with in slit view, very high throughput
Papers
- June 2018: WIRC+Pol instrument paper
- August 2018: SN2017eaw polarization+progenitor paper
- end 2018/early 2019: SN polarization modeling paper/V4332 Sgr
- early-mid 2019: 2014C follow-up paper on CSM
- mid 2019: New WIRC modulator, August SPIE San Diego
- end 2019: (progenitor CSM survey) ?
- 2018-2019: BD paper
- 2019-2020: PG based instrument design paper(?)
Dates: avoid exocal (Sep 17-18) and Keck science meeting (Sep 20-21)
Committee
- Dimitri: advisor
- Mansi: co-advisor
- Lynne: Sep 12-
- Jim: theorist (Good Sep 10 - Oct 1)
- Chuck: non-expert