Preliminary Testing of PHX050S-PC Polarization Camera for Future Use in Measuring Polarization Structure of the Solar Corona

The outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, otherwise known as the solar corona, is difficult to observe and study due to its relative dimness compared to the photosphere. The corona is most visible during a total solar eclipse, which is the main motivation behind designing and building the Wheaton Imaging Solar Polarimeter (WHISPER). WHISPER will measure the polarization structure of the solar corona during total solar eclipses. Central to WHISPER is the Phoenix PHX050S-PC polarization camera, equipped with a Sony IMX250/264 CMOS sensor. We will present our studies to quantify the sensor's properties such as linearity, offset, and gain parameters. We will also present polarization imaging of various targets such as the International Space Station, the Ring Nebula, and the sunlit sky. Furthermore, we are exploring the python software development kit provided by the camera manufacturer, with the goal of setting camera parameters via our own code. This code will help to fully automate continuous data acquisition during the eclipse, eliminating any gaps in data caused by manual adjustments or human error.