Abstract

The ASTE Polarimeter (APol), developed by Dr. Li at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), presented a simple but innovative approach to carry out polarimetric measurements using ASTE Telescope’s TES camera. Our group at Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) has collaborated in the project since its early stages and was assigned with the task of developing the control software for the instrument. The software has been developed also keeping the simplicity concept in mind. All its functionality has been separated in simple modules which are in charge of well defined tasks. The interfaces between the modules follow the design of modern applications and are based on well defined standards, such as those used by internet applications. The instrument has also the opportunity to be tested on the JCMT Telescope, and it is going to be used as the base design for a polarimeter in the future Leighton Chajnantor Telescope (LCT). Therefore, there is a requirement that the control software should be flexible enough to interface with at least these three telescopes, all of which run very different control software systems. This paper presents the design and implementation of APol’s control software, as well as some results of laboratory tests of the instrument.