A Polarimeter in the Microwave Region

A polarimeter at the frequency of 9000 mc for the observation of the solar-radio emission is described. The method of phase modulation at the rf circuit is applied to detect the polarized components in the incident waves. The amplitude modulation by ferrite switching also is used to get higher accuracy for the observation. The Stokes parameters (I, Q, U, and V) in a partially-incident wave can be obtained directly. The minimum detectable intensities of these parameters are 3 for I+Q/2 and V, and 6 for Q and U respectively in the units of 10-22 mks. An example of the observation shows the complex polarization of a solar-radio burst at this frequency.