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At least 91 records · Page 5

On-Orbit Performance of MODIS Solar Diffuser Stability Monitor

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is currently operated on both the Terra and Aqua spacecraft. It collects data in 20 reflective solar bands (RSB) and 16 thermal emissive bands. MODIS RSB calibration is reflectance based via an on-board solar diffuser (SD). On-orbit changes in the SD bidirectional reflectance factor are tracked by an onboard solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM). The SDSM functions as an independent ratioing radiometer with nine filtered detectors, covering wavelengths in the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) spectral regions. A brief overview of SDSM design functions, on-orbit operations, and performance for both Terra and Aqua MODIS is provided. In addition to the SD on-orbit degradation at different wavelengths, the changes in SDSM detector responses and their potential impact on tracking SD on-orbit degradation are examined. After more than 12 years of on-orbit operation, Aqua MODIS SD has shown degradation varying from 0.6% at 0.94 microns to 19.0% at 0.41 microns. Due to more frequent solar exposure and longer operation time, the Terra MODIS SD has experienced a much larger degradation, varying from 2.3% at 0.94 microns to 48.0% at 0.41 microns. For both Terra and Aqua MODIS, the SD has experienced more degradation at shorter wavelengths. Meanwhile, the SDSM detector responses have also experienced wavelength-dependent degradation. The largest change in the SDSM detector responses, however, occurred at longer NIR wavelengths. Since launch, the SDSM systems on both Terra and Aqua MODIS have continued their nominal operations, enabling critical parameters to be derived in support of the RSB on-orbit calibration. The calibration strategies developed for and lessons learned from MODIS SDSM operations, and a preliminary performance comparison with the S-NPP VIIRS SDSM are discussed.

MODIS↗

The ultraviolet imager (UVI) for ISTP

We report the design of an imager with 0.6-millirad angular resolution over an 8-deg field of view sampled with 39,500 pixels, yielding global auroral coherent imaging from above 6 R(E). High performance filters provide spectrally pure measurements of four key FUV features, with 10 exp -4 out-of-band rejection. Together with the solar blind intensified CCD detector, a net rejection of 10 exp -9 of all out-of-band emissions is achieved. The optical design comprises a three-mirror f/3 system which yields a noise equivalent sensitivity of 10 Rayleighs for a 37-sec frame rate. The instantaneous dynamic range is 1000 which can be windowed over a range of 10 exp 4.

Torr, D. G.↗

SeaWiFS Postlaunch Technical Report Series: The SeaWiFS Transfer Radiometer (SXR) - Volume 1

The SeaWiFS Transfer Radiometer (SXR) was built for the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Project as part of an Interagency Agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The SXR is a multichannel radiometer designed to verify and compare measurements of spectral radiance at six discrete wavelengths in the visible and near infrared for various calibration sources in the SeaWiFS Project. In addition, the SXR is used to compare these sources to standards of spectral radiance maintained at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The SXR was designed, built, and thoroughly characterized in the Optical Technology Division at NIST. A unique optical design provides six independent optical paths, each equipped with a temperature stabilized interference filter and silicon photodiode. A separate beam path through the input lens is used to visually align the SXR. The entrance windows for each channel overlap at the source, with each channel sampling a unique solid angle within the field of view of the SXR; this allows for simultaneous sampling of all channels. The combined standard relative uncertainty of spectral radiance measurements with the SXR is estimated to be between 0.6% and 1.3%. This report describes the design and construction of the SXR in detail, and gives the results of the optical characterization and calibrations done at NIST. The SXR has been used for several intercomparisons which include several SeaWiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiments (SIRREXs); those done at the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) laboratories in Honolulu, Hawaii; at the NEC Corporation in Yokohama, Japan; and Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) in Germantown, Maryland. Thorough optical characterization and calibration of the SXR was essential to the successful application of the radiometer for these measurements.

Johnson, B. Carol↗

SeaWiFS Postlaunch Technical Report Series: The SeaWiFS Transfer Radiometer (SXR) - Volume 1

The SeaWiFS Transfer Radiometer (SXR) was built for the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Project as part of an Interagency Agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The SXR is a multichannel radiometer designed to verify and compare measurements of spectral radiance at six discrete wavelengths in the visible and near infrared for various calibration sources in the SeaWiFS Project. In addition, the SXR is used to compare these sources to standards of spectral radiance maintained at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The SXR was designed, built, and thoroughly characterized in the Optical Technology Division at NIST. A unique optical design provides six independent optical paths, each equipped with a temperature stabilized interference filter and silicon photodiode. A separate beam path through the input lens is used to visually align the SXR. The entrance windows for each channel overlap at the source, with each channel sampling a unique solid angle within the field of view of the SXR; this allows for simultaneous sampling of all channels. The combined standard relative uncertainty of spectral radiance measurements with the SXR is estimated to be between 0.6% and 1.3%. This report describes the design and construction of the SXR in detail, and gives the results of the optical characterization and calibrations done at NIST. The SXR has been used for several intercomparisons which include several SeaWiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiments (SIRREXs); those done at the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) laboratories in Honolulu, Hawaii; at the NEC Corporation in Yokohama, Japan; and Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) in Germantown, Maryland. Thorough optical characterization and calibration of the SXR was essential to the successful application of the radiometer for these measurements.

Hooker, Stanford B.↗

A Compact, Multi-view Net Flux Radiometer for Future Uranus and Neptune Probes

A Net Flux Radiometer (NFR) is presented that can be included in an atmospheric structure instrument suite for future probe missions to the icy giants Uranus and Neptune. The baseline design has two spectral channels i.e., a solar channel (0.4-to-3.5 m) and a thermal channel (4-to-300 m). The NFR is capable of viewing five distinct viewing angles during the descent. Non-imaging Winston cones with band-pass filters are used for each spectral channel and to define a 5 angular acceptance. Uncooled thermopile detectors are used in each spectral channel and are read out using a custom radiation hard application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The baseline design can easily be changed to increase the number of detector channels from two to seven.

Aslam, S.↗

Cryogenic refractor design techniques

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was designed to operate at 2K, and over the spectral range of 8 to 120 micrometers. The focal plane is approximately 2 by 3 inches in size, and contains 62 individual field stop apertures, each with its own field lens, one or more filters and a detector. The design of the lenses involved a number of difficulties and challenges that are not usually encountered in optical design. Operating temperature is assumed during the design phase, which requires reliable information on dN/dT (Index Coefficient) for the materials. The optics and all supporting structures are then expanded to room temperature, which requires expansion coefficient data on the various materials, and meticulous attention to detail. The small size and dense packaging, as well as the high precision required, further contributed to the magnitude of the task.

Darnell, R. J.↗

An optimal control approach to the design of moving flight simulators

An abstract flight simulator design problem is formulated in the form of an optimal control problem, which is solved for the linear-quadratic-Gaussian special case using a mathematical model of the vestibular organs. The optimization criterion used is the mean-square difference between the physiological outputs of the vestibular organs of the pilot in the aircraft and the pilot in the simulator. The dynamical equations are linearized, and the output signal is modeled as a random process with rational power spectral density. The method described yields the optimal structure of the simulator's motion generator, or 'washout filter'. A two-degree-of-freedom flight simulator design, including single output simulations, is presented.

Sivan, R.↗

Generation of entangled-photons by a quantum dot cascade source in polarized cavities: Using cavity resonances to boost signals and preserve the entanglements

Motivated by recent advances in the development of single photon emitters for quantum information sciences, here we design and formulate a quantum cascade model that describes cascade emission by a quantum dot (QD) in a cavity structure while preserving entanglement that stores information needed for single photon emission. The theoretical approach is based on a photonic structure that consists of two orthogonal cavities in which resonance with either the first or second of the two emitted photons is possible, leading to amplification and rerouting of the entangled light. The cavity–QD scheme uses a four-level cascade emitter that involves three levels for each polarization, leading to two spatially entangled photons for each polarization. By solving the Schrodinger equation, we identify the characteristic properties of the system, which can be used in conjunction with optimization techniques to achieve the “best” design relative to a set of prioritized criteria or constraints in our optical system. The theoretical investigations include an analysis of emission spectra in addition to the joint spectral density profile, and the results demonstrate the ability of the cavities to act as frequency filters for the photons that make up the entanglements and to modify entanglement properties. The results provide new opportunities for the experimental design and engineering of on-demand single photon sources.

Chemistry↗

Trends in measurement of solar vector magnetic fields using the Zeeman effect

Trends in spectropolarimetry as applied to the problem of Zeeman effect measurement are discussed. The use of detector arrays to improve observing efficiency is obtained. Which required new polarization modulation schemes that match the time required to read detector arrays. Another significant trend is narrowband filters, to improve angular and temporal coverage, and to Fourier transform spectrometers, to improve spectral coverage and precision. Low-polarization designs and improved methods for compensating instrumental polarization were developed. A requirement for high angular resolution suggests using adaptive optical devices to subdue the effects of bad seeing. The ultimate strategy to beat the seeing is to loft the telescope above the atmosphere such as is planned with a 30-cm telescope in 1985 and a 1250-cm telescope in 1990.

Harvey, J. W.↗

Enhanced Aluminum Reflecting and Solar-Blind Filter Coatings for the Far-Ultraviolet

The advancement of far-ultraviolet (FUV) coatings is essential to meet the specified throughput requirements of the Large UV/Optical/IR (LUVOIR) Surveyor Observatory which will cover wavelengths down to the 100 nm range. The biggest constraint in the optical thin film coating design is attenuation in the Lyman-Alpha Ultraviolet range of 100-130 nm in which conventionally deposited thin film materials used in this spectral region (e.g. aluminum [Al] protected with Magnesium fluoride [MgF2]) often have high absorption and scatter properties degrading the throughput in an optical system. We investigate the use of optimally deposited aluminum and aluminum tri-fluoride (AlF3) materials for reflecting and solar blind band-pass filter coatings for use in the FUV. Optical characterization of the deposited designs has been performed using UV spectrometry. The optical thin film design and optimal deposition conditions to produce superior reflectance and transmittance using Al and AlF3 are presented.

optical thin films↗

Global tropospheric and total ozone monitoring with a Double-Etalon Fabry-Perot interferometer

Knowledge of the global scale distribution of atmospheric ozone and its temporal variability can be achieved using a satellite-based nadir-viewing device making high spectral resolution measurements with high signal-to-noise ratios. This would enable observation in the pressure-broadened wings of strong O3 lines while minimizing the impact of undesirable signal contributions associated with, for example, the terrestrial surface and interfering species. The Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) provides high spectral resolution and high throughput capabilities that are essential for this measurement task. The periodic nature of the Fabry-Perot instrument function can be advantageous when observation of periodic spectra is desired. However, for most applications, additional optical elements are necessary to reduce the effect of unwanted passbands. This is frequently accomplished using additional Fabry-Perot etalons in a series configuration in conjunction with a bandpass filter. This paper discusses a Fabry-Perot interferometer conceptual instrument design to achieve tropospheric and total ozone monitoring capability from a satellite-based nadir-viewing geometry. The design involves a double-etalon fixed-gap series configuration FPI along with an ultra-narrow bandpass filter to achieve single-order operation with an overall spectral resolution of approximately .068 cm(exp -1). The impact of inter-etalon reflections has been reduced to acceptable levels by placement of a slightly attenuating medium in between the etalons. A passive device is selected for low power consumption, and continuous day/night coverage, independent of solar zenith angle, is enabled by observing within the strong 9.6 micron ozone infrared band. The IR-FPI detection will be performed through implementation of the new Circle to Line Interferometer Optical (CLIO) system, developed by researchers at the Space Physics Research Laboratory (SPRL) of the University of Michigan, to accomplish focal plane fringe detection; the CLIO system converts the circular interferometric fringes into a linear pattern which then can be detected by conventional linear array detectors. A multiplex signal advantage is achievable as all necessary frequencies can be measured simultaneously using a multichannel configuration. Through proper selection of channel spectral regions, the FPI optimized for tropospheric O3 measurements can simultaneously observe a stratospheric component and thus the total O3 column abundance.

Larar, Allen M.↗

Hyperspectral Fluorescence and Reflectance Imaging Instrument

The system is a single hyperspectral imaging instrument that has the unique capability to acquire both fluorescence and reflectance high-spatial-resolution data that is inherently spatially and spectrally registered. Potential uses of this instrument include plant stress monitoring, counterfeit document detection, biomedical imaging, forensic imaging, and general materials identification. Until now, reflectance and fluorescence spectral imaging have been performed by separate instruments. Neither a reflectance spectral image nor a fluorescence spectral image alone yields as much information about a target surface as does a combination of the two modalities. Before this system was developed, to benefit from this combination, analysts needed to perform time-consuming post-processing efforts to co-register the reflective and fluorescence information. With this instrument, the inherent spatial and spectral registration of the reflectance and fluorescence images minimizes the need for this post-processing step. The main challenge for this technology is to detect the fluorescence signal in the presence of a much stronger reflectance signal. To meet this challenge, the instrument modulates artificial light sources from ultraviolet through the visible to the near-infrared part of the spectrum; in this way, both the reflective and fluorescence signals can be measured through differencing processes to optimize fluorescence and reflectance spectra as needed. The main functional components of the instrument are a hyperspectral imager, an illumination system, and an image-plane scanner. The hyperspectral imager is a one-dimensional (line) imaging spectrometer that includes a spectrally dispersive element and a two-dimensional focal plane detector array. The spectral range of the current imaging spectrometer is between 400 to 1,000 nm, and the wavelength resolution is approximately 3 nm. The illumination system consists of narrowband blue, ultraviolet, and other discrete wavelength light-emitting-diode (LED) sources and white-light LED sources designed to produce consistently spatially stable light. White LEDs provide illumination for the measurement of reflectance spectra, while narrowband blue and UV LEDs are used to excite fluorescence. Each spectral type of LED can be turned on or off depending on the specific remote-sensing process being performed. Uniformity of illumination is achieved by using an array of LEDs and/or an integrating sphere or other diffusing surface. The image plane scanner uses a fore optic with a field of view large enough to provide an entire scan line on the image plane. It builds up a two-dimensional image in pushbroom fashion as the target is scanned across the image plane either by moving the object or moving the fore optic. For fluorescence detection, spectral filtering of a narrowband light illumination source is sometimes necessary to minimize the interference of the source spectrum wings with the fluorescence signal. Spectral filtering is achieved with optical interference filters and absorption glasses. This dual spectral imaging capability will enable the optimization of reflective, fluorescence, and fused datasets as well as a cost-effective design for multispectral imaging solutions. This system has been used in plant stress detection studies and in currency analysis.

Ryan, Robert E.↗

Frequency tuning characteristics of a Q-switched Co:MgF2 laser

A tunable Q-switched Co:MgF2 laser has been developed for atmospheric remote sensing applications. Frequency tuning is provided by a quartz etalon and a specially designed three-element birefringent filter covering the whole gain bandwidth of the Co:MgF2 laser. The laser has good temporal and spectral characteristics, with an emission linewidth of approximately 3 GHz (0.1 per cm).

Lovold, S.↗

Solar vector magnetograph for Max 1991 programs

An instrument for measuring solar magnetic fields is under construction. Key requirements for any solar vector magnetograph are high spatial resolution, high optical throughput, fine spectral selectivity, and ultralow instrumental polarization. An available 25 cm Cassegrain telescope will provide 0.5 arcsec spatial resolution. Spectral selection will be accomplished with a 150 mA filter based on electrically tunable solid Fabry-Perot etalon. Filter and polarization analyzer design concepts for the magnetograph are described in detail. The instrument will be tested at JHU/APL, and then moved to the National Solar Observatory in late 1988. It will be available to support the Max 1991 program.

Rust, D. M.↗

Spectral Characterizations of the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Thermistor Bolometers using Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) Techniques

Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) techniques are being used to characterize the relative spectral response, or sensitivity, of scanning thermistor bolometers in the infrared (IR) region (2 - >= 100-micrometers). The bolometers are being used in the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) program. The CERES measurements are designed to provide precise, long term monitoring of the Earth's atmospheric radiation energy budget. The CERES instrument houses three bolometric radiometers, a total wavelength (0.3- >= 150-micrometers) sensor, a shortwave (0.3-5-micrometers) sensor, and an atmospheric window (8-12-micrometers) sensor. Accurate spectral characterization is necessary for determining filtered radiances for longwave radiometric calibrations. The CERES bolometers spectral response's are measured in the TRW FTS Vacuum Chamber Facility (FTS - VCF), which uses a FTS as the source and a cavity pyroelectric trap detector as the reference. The CERES bolometers and the cavity detector are contained in a vacuum chamber, while the FTS source is housed in a GN2 purged chamber. Due to the thermal time constant of the CERES bolometers, the FTS must be operated in a step mode. Data are acquired in 6 IR spectral bands covering the entire longwave IR region. In this paper, the TRW spectral calibration facility design and data measurement techniques are described. Two approaches are presented which convert the total channel FTS data into the final CERES spectral characterizations, producing the same calibration coefficients (within 0.1 percent). The resulting spectral response curves are shown, along with error sources in the two procedures. Finally, the impact of each spectral response curve on CERES data validation will be examined through analysis of filtered radiance values from various typical scene types.

Thornhill, K. Lee↗

Imaging IR spectrometer, phase 2

The development is examined of a prototype multi-channel infrared imaging spectrometer. The design, construction and preliminary performance is described. This instrument is intended for use with JPL Table Mountain telescope as well as the 88 inch UH telescope on Mauna Kea. The instrument is capable of sampling simultaneously the spectral region of 0.9 to 2.6 um at an average spectral resolution of 1 percent using a cooled (77 K) optical bench, a concave holographic grating and a special order sorting filter to allow the acquisition of the full spectral range on a 128 x 128 HgCdTe infrared detector array. The field of view of the spectrometer is 0.5 arcsec/pixel in mapping mode and designed to be 5 arcsec/pixel in spot mode. The innovative optical design has resulted in a small, transportable spectrometer, capable of remote operation. Commercial applications of this spectrometer design include remote sensing from both space and aircraft platforms as well as groundbased astronomical observations.

Gradie, Jonathan↗

Subsystem Estimation: A Modal Decomposition Approach

In structural analysis it is often the requirement that the response of a critical subsystem must be extracted from the response of the overall structure even when not directly excited or sometimes even measured. Based on this requirement, a number of signal processing approaches evolve that can provide a meaningful solution to this troubling problem; however, there is a variety of prior information (parameters or data) that must be available. For instance, knowledge of subsystem bandwidth may be enough to design a simple filter if there is little or no overlap with other component systems. If this is not satisfactory and a specific spectral response is required, then a model-based approach can be applied using an available free-free response of the subsystem from calibration or acceptance tests. However, when assembled and coupled with the overall system, the subsystem boundary conditions have been altered and therefore its response is altered as well.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Changes in Thermospheric O/N2 Derived from UVI Auroral Images

A rigorous test of our understanding of the coupled ionosphere-thermosphere and its response to geomagnetic storms is the ability to reproduce observed storm effects as seen in the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere. The concept of compositional change is central to studies of thermosphere response to storm conditions. In particular, information about compositional change within the highly dynamic auroral region is limited. The Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) is designed to view the full auroral region using five filters to isolate emissions from atomic oxygen (1304 and 1356) and N2 LBH. This spectral resolution allows auroral energy characteristics to be derived by two separate methods from examining ratios of observed intensities (OI 1356/LBHL or LBHS/LBHL). The LBHS:LBHL ratio is typically used as the mean energy diagnostic since the OI 1356 emission is dependent on changes in the atomic oxygen density, and these changes relative to N2 can be large. However, once the mean energy has been specified by the LBH ratio, this variability in OI 1356 emission can be exploited as a direct diagnostic of total atomic oxygen column density. This opens the potential of using UVI images to monitor the temporal and spatial response of thermospheric O to high latitude forcing within the auroral regions. Initial results of this type of analysis will be presented along with discussion of its limitations and capabilities.

Germany, G. A.↗