Using the adaptive optics (AO) secondary of the 6.5m MMT, this instrument will offer diffraction limited polarimetry with a very low instrumental polarization.  Other polarimeters have suffered from high and variable instrumental polarization when using AO due to the necessary complex and often off-axis reflections.  MMT-POL will be able to probe objects as diverse as debris disks, young stars, galaxies and AGN.

We expect to use some of the revolutionary electronics released by Teledyne or Raytheon, greatly simplifying the electronics design and implementation.  As such. this project provides an ideal training ground for the next generation of instrument builders, and we will employ young scientists to perform a significant portion of this instrumentation work.

MMT-POL is a collaboration between the Universities of Florida (Packham) and Minnesota (Jones), drawing on the skills and experiences of both groups, and further providing an exciting collaboration for the groups.