Solar Physics at the Einstein Tower

TL;DR

The Einstein Tower serves as a historic solar observatory combining architectural significance with ongoing research, instrument testing, education, and public outreach in solar physics.

Contribution

This paper details the observatory's unique architecture, its evolving research focus, and its role in instrument development and education in solar physics.

Findings

The observatory is used for testing advanced polarization optics.

It supports research on the active Sun and magnetic fields.

The building's preservation presents unique challenges.

Abstract

The solar observatory Einstein Tower (Einsteinturm) at the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam is both a landmark of modern architecture and an important place for solar physics. Originally built for high-resolution spectroscopy and measuring the gravitational redshift, research shifted over the years to understanding the active Sun and its magnetic field. Nowadays, telescope and spectrographs are used for research and development, i.e., testing instruments and in particular polarization optics for advanced instrumentation deployed at major European and international astronomical and solar telescopes. In addition, the Einstein Tower is used for educating and training of the next generation astrophysicists as well as for education and public outreach activities directed at the general public. This article comments on the observatory's unique architecture and the challenges of maintaining and conserving the building. It describes in detail the characteristics of telescope, spectrographs, and imagers; it portrays some of the research and development activities.