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NASA NTRS1992

Radiometric calibration of a polarization-sensitive sensor

The radiometric accuracy of a sensor is adversely affected by scene polarization if its optical system is sensitive to polarization. Tests performed on the reflective bands of the NS001 Thematic Mapper simulator, an aircraft multispectral scanner, show that it is very sensitive to the polarization state of the incoming radiations. For 100 percent linearly polarized light, errors in the measured intensity vary from -40 to +40 percent, depending on the scan angle and spectral band. To estimate polarization-induced errors in the intensity measured at aircraft level, the intensity and polarization of the atmospheric radiances were simulated using a realistic earth-atmosphere radiative transfer model. For the polarization of atmospheric radiances in the solar meridian plane over a vegetated target, intensity errors may range from -10 to + 10 percent. The polarization-induced errors are highest in the shortest NS001 spectral band (0.450-0.525 microns) because of large atmospheric polarizations contributed by Rayleigh particles and small diluting effects caused by the small contributions of weakly polarized radiations coming from aerosols and the surface. Depending on the illumination and view angles, the errors in derived surface reflectance due to the radiance errors can be very large. In particular, for large off-nadir view angles in the forward scattered direction when the sun is low, the relative errors in the derived surface reflectance can be as large as 4 to 5 times the relative error in the radiances. Polarization sensitivity errors cannot be neglected for the shorter wavelengths when the surface reflectance contribution to atmospheric radiances is very small.

Ahmad, Suraiya P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Measurements of magnetic fields in solar prominences

Magnetic fields can be measured, in solar prominences, by means of two different basic mechanisms that are responsible for the introduction (or the reduction) of a given amount of polarization in spectral lines: these are the Zeeman effect and the Hanle effect. Through the splitting of the magnetic components of a spectral line, the Zeeman effect is capable of introducing a certain amount of circular polarization across the line profile. The Hanle effect consist of a modification of the linear polarization that is induced in spectral lines by the anisotropic illumination of the prominence plasma by the photospheric radiation field. These two effects are briefly discussed.

Deglinnocenti, Egidio Landi↗

NASA NTRS1993

Multilayer thin film design for far ultraviolet polarizers using an induced transmission and absorption technique

An explanation of induced transmission for spectral regions excluding the far ultraviolet (FUV) is given to better understand how induced transmission and absorption can be used to design effective polarizers in the FUV spectral region. We achieve high s-polarization reflectance and a high degree of polarization (P equals (Rs-Rp)/(Rs+Rp)) by means of a MgF2/Al/MgF2 three layer structure on an opaque thick film of Al as the substrate. For example, our polarizer designed for the Lyman-alpha line (lambda equals 121.6 nm) has 87.95 percent reflectance for the s-polarization case and 0.43 percent for the p-polarization case, with a degree of polarization of 99.03 percent. If a double reflection polarizer is made with this design, it will have a degree of polarization of 99.99 percent and s-polarization throughput of 77.35 percent.

Kim, Jongmin↗

NASA NTRS2019

Spectral Polarization Distribution Models (PDMs) for NASA CLARREO Pathfinder’s Inter-Calibration Applications

Solar radiation scattered by Earth surfaces of various scene types such as oceans, deserts, tree leaves etc and atmospheric molecules and particles is polarized and the amount of polarization depends on the surface composition and particle physical properties. This can be a source of measurement errors in satellite data if a non-polarimetric radiometric sensor is sensitive to the polarization state of light. To obtain highly accurate spectral solar radiation data from the Earth-atmosphere system for the space-borne inter-calibration studies as proposed in NASA's Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) mission and the CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) mission, the spectral polarization state of the reflected solar light at the top of atmosphere (TOA) must be known with sufficient accuracy. The degree of polarization (DOP) and the angle of linear polarization (AOLP) of the light at the TOA as functions of incident and viewing geometry and scene type construct the Polarization Distribution Models (PDMs) for correction of polarization-induced error of satellite data. In this work, algorithms for modeling the spectral polarization state of reflected sunlight from various types of Earth, including oceans, deserts, vegetated land surfaces and these scene types with all kinds of clouds, are developed. By comparing the model results with the PARASOL satellite data, our numerical results demonstrate that the model can provide a reliable approach for making the spectral PDMs for wavelengths between 320 and 2300 nm for satellite inter-calibration applications as proposed in the CLARREO and the CLARREO CPF missions.

Sun, Wenbo↗

NASA NTRS1991

Optical design of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer - Tilt (MODIS-T) for the Earth Observing System (Eos)

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) is an Earth viewing sensor that is planned as a facility instrument for the Earth Observing System (Eos) scheduled to begin functioning in the late 1990's. The MODIS is composed of two mutually supporting sensors one of which is MODIS-T, where 'T' signifies a tiltable along-track field of view. MODIS-T is a 32 channel imaging spectrometer with a required 10 nm to 15 nm spectral resolution (FWHM) in the 400 nm to 880 nm spectral range with less than 2.3 percent instrument induced linear polarization. The instrument provides at nadir a 33 km by 1500 km swath with a 1.1 km spatial resolution and an along-track pointing capability of +/- 50 deg about nadir. The heart of the optical design consists of a f/3 grating-type reflecting Schmidt camera.

Maymon, Peter W.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Absorption profile of a planetary atmosphere - A proposal for a scattering independent determination.

The use of scattering theory to infer atmospheric optical parameters requires the separation of absorption and scattering. It is demonstrated that a gradient flux relation exists that would provide the absorption (altitude) profile independently of scattering and irrespective of the state of polarization of the light field. The relation is derived for an atmosphere of plane-parallel or spherical geometry and for broad (continuum) and narrow (spectral line) frequency bands. The results are shown to hold, in particular, for the polarizations induced by both Rayleigh and Mie scattering in the field. Experimental setups are proposed for each of the cases considered of atmospheric geometry and frequency bandwidth.

Fymat, A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1972

New theory for giant loops.

Four very large, shell-shaped features are known from the surveys of radio emission from the Galaxy. It is suggested that the giant loops represent a class of nebulae, induced by supernova radiation as opposed to supernova ejecta. The model considered provides a qualitative explanation for the spectral and polarization properties of the radio emission from giant loops. The radio emitting electrons are part of the general cosmic ray gas and need not arise specifically in the supernova that produced the fossil Stroemgren sphere.

Brandt, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Anti-Stokes scattering as an XUV radiation source

Harris (1977) has shown that laser induced scattering from atoms stored in a metastable level may be used to produce an XUV radiation source with several unique properties, including narrow linewidth, tunability, linear polarization, picosecond pulsewidth, and relatively high peak spectral brightness. The present investigation provides a summary concerning the progress made on the use of this radiation source as a unique instrument for XUV spectroscopy, and as a possible flashlamp for a 200 A laser. Zych et al. (1978) demonstrated that the maximum spectral brightness of the source is that of a blackbody with a temperature of the metastable storage level. The peak count rate and peak spectral brightness of the anti-Stokes emission at 569 A are 17 times and 139 times greater than those of the 584 A resonance line. The anti-Stokes process was employed as an external source of radiation for high resolution spectroscopy of the 3p6 shell of potassium. Attention is also given to emission spectroscopy of lithium, metastable levels which are appropriate for storage, and a hollow cathode discharge.

Harris, S. E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Spectral-Content Readout Of Birefringent Sensor

Stresses and strains measured optically at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees F. Spectrum of light processed through polarizer, sensor, analyzer, and associated optical components measured and processed to extract amount of retardation and, equivalently, stress-induced birefringence in sensor. Method offers same advantages as electrical strain sensors, including acquisition of data from multiple locations and under dynamic conditions. Additional advantage: immunity of fiber-optic transmission to interference by electromagnetic interference at radio and lower frequencies.

Redner, Alex S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

On the electromagnetic scattering from infinite rectangular conducting grids

The study and development of two numerical techniques for the analysis of electromagnetic scattering from a rectangular wire mesh are described. Both techniques follow from one basic formulation and they are both solved in the spectral domain. These techniques were developed as a result of an investigation towards more efficient numerical computation for mesh scattering. These techniques are efficient for the following reasons: (a1) make use of the Fast Fourier Transform; (b2) they avoid any convolution problems by converting integrodifferential equations into algebraic equations; and (c3) they do not require inversions of any matrices. The first method, the SIT or Spectral Iteration Technique, is applied for regions where the spacing between wires is not less than two wavelengths. The second method, the SDCG or Spectral Domain Conjugate Gradient approach, can be used for any spacing between adjacent wires. A study of electromagnetic wave properties, such as reflection coefficient, induced currents and aperture fields, as functions of frequency, angle of incidence, polarization and thickness of wires is presented. Examples and comparisons or results with other methods are also included to support the validity of the new algorithms.

Christodoulou, C.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Collaboration on SEP Missions to the Moon and Small Bodies

In response to the Discovery announcement of opportunity a team consisting of TRW Lewis Research Center, JPL and UCLA with scientific co-investigators from government and University laboratories have proposed to fly the first planetary solar electric propulsion (SEP) mission. Diana is designed to carry an X-ray and gamma ray spectrometer, and imaging spectrometer, a framing camera, a laser altimer an ion spectrometer and a magnetometer. In order to obtain lunar gravity data from the far side of the moon a relay satellite is placed into high polar orbit about the moon to relay the Doppler-shifted telemetry to Earth. Diana will spend two months in a 700 km polar orbit obtaining mineralogical data from a full spectral map of the lunar surface, and then spend a year in a 100 km (or below) polar orbit mapping the lunar elemental composition, its topography, gravity field, ions from its atmosphere and its permanent and induced magnetic fields. After the low altitude mapping phase the ion thrusters propel the spacecraft out of the lunar sphere of influence and onto a heloioscentric trajectory to rendezvous with dormant comet Wilson-Harrington. The ground truth provided by the returned lunar samples to validate the remote sensing instruments for lunar studies will also serve to validate the Wilson-Harrington observations since the same instruments will be used at both bodies.

Pieters, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS2017

First Application of the Zeeman Technique to Remotely Measure Auroral Electrojet Intensity From Space

Using the O2 118 GHz spectral radiance measurements obtained by the Microwave Limb Sounder instrument on board the Aura spacecraft, we demonstrate that the Zeeman effect can be used to remotely measure the magnetic field perturbations produced by the auroral electrojet near the Hall current closure altitudes. Our derived current-induced magnetic field perturbations are found to be highly correlated with those coincidently obtained by ground magnetometers. These perturbations are also found to be linearly correlated with auroral electrojet strength. The statistically derived polar maps of our measured magnetic field perturbation reveal a spatial-temporal morphology consistent with that produced by the Hall current during substorms and storms. With today's technology, a constellation of compact, low-power, high spectral-resolution cubesats would have the capability to provide high precision and spatiotemporal magnetic field samplings needed for auroral electrojet measurements to gain insights into the spatiotemporal behavior of the auroral electrojet system.

spectral radiance measurements; Aur↗

NASA NTRS1987

Changes in the earth's rotation and low-degree gravitational field induced by earthquakes

Analytical formulas based on the normal-mode theory are used together with a spherically symmetric earth model and the centroid-moment tensor solutions for earthquake sources to compute the earthquake-induced changes in the earth's rotation and low-degree harmonics of the gravitational field for the period 1977-1985. Spectral and statistical analyses are conducted on these changes. It is found that the earthquake-induced changes are two orders of magnitude smaller than those observed; most of these changes show strong evidence of nonrandomness either in their polarity or in their directions.

Chao, B. Fong↗

NASA NTRS1991

Multiphoton ionization of N2 by the third harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser - A new avenue for air diagnostics

Laser-induced N2 ionization is accomplished using a commercially available Nd:YAG laser, and confirmed by means of ion-collection and spectral measurements. Neutral N2 is excited by six photons of the third harmonic frequency, or 355 nm, and is transformed to an ionized state. The radiation at 355 nm is separated from the fundamental and frequency-doubled Nd:YAG radiation to guarantee monochromatic incident radiation. Intense lines near 391.4 nm are found in the initial laser polarization and for a 90-degree rotation of polarization. The radiation at 391.4 nm is associated with an incoherent laser-induced flourescence process related to an ionized-state transition, and increases quadratically with laser power. A 45-mJ laser pulse focused to a diameter of 17 microns can produce an ion concentration of 3.25 x 10 to the 13th ions/cu cm. The large ion concentration and robust fluorescence signal make this technique an efficient method for time-of-flight velocimetry and in-flight testing.

Laufer, Gabriel↗

NASA NTRS2013

Interannual Variations of MLS Carbon Monoxide Induced by Solar Cycle

More than eight years (2004-2012) of carbon monoxide (CO) measurements from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) are analyzed. The mesospheric CO, largely produced by the carbon dioxide (CO2) photolysis in the lower thermosphere, is sensitive to the solar irradiance variability. The long-term variation of observed mesospheric MLS CO concentrations at high latitudes is likely driven by the solar-cycle modulated UV forcing. Despite of different CO abundances in the southern and northern hemispheric winter, the solar-cycle dependence appears to be similar. This solar signal is further carried down to the lower altitudes by the dynamical descent in the winter polar vortex. Aura MLS CO is compared with the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) total solar irradiance (TSI) and also with the spectral irradiance in the far ultraviolet (FUV) region from the SORCE Solar-Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE). Significant positive correlation (up to 0.6) is found between CO and FUVTSI in a large part of the upper atmosphere. The distribution of this positive correlation in the mesosphere is consistent with the expectation of CO changes induced by the solar irradiance variations.

carbon monoxide↗

NASA NTRS1997

The 4-Day Wave as Observed from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite Microwave Limb Sounder

The "4-day wave" is an eastward moving quasi-nondispersive feature with period near 4 days occurring near the winter polar stratopause. This paper presents evidence of the 4-day feature in Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) temperature, geopotential height, and ozone data from the late southern winters of 1992 and 1993. Space-time spectral analyses reveal a double-peaked temperature structure consisting of one peak near the stratopause and another in the lower mesosphere, with an out-of-phase relationship between the two peaks. This double- peaked structure is reminiscent of recent three-dimensional barotropic/baroclinic instability model predictions and is observed here for the first time. The height variation of the 4-day ozone signal is shown to compare well with a linear advective-photochemical tracer model. Negative regions of quasigeostrophic potential vorticity (PV) gradient and positive Eliassen-Palm flux divergence are shown to occur, consistent with instability dynamics playing a role in wave forcing. Spectral analyses of PV derived from MLS geopotential height fields reveal a 4-day signal peaking near the polar stratopause. The three-dimensional structure of the 4-day wave resembles the potential vorticity "charge" concept, wherein a PV anomaly in the atmosphere (analogous to an electrical charge in a dielectric material) induces a geopotential field, a vertically oriented temperature dipole, and circulation about the vertical axis.

Allen, D. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Strong hydromagnetic fluctuations in the Comet P/Halley magnetosphere observed by the Giotto magnetic field experiment

Strong hydromagnetic fluctuations were observed in the induced magnetosphere of comet Halley. Several regions were identified showing either strong turbulence, characterized by the absence of strong fluctuations, or showing isolated, quasi-coherent wave trains above a turbulent background. Visual inspection of the wave trains shows no preferred sense of polarization, i.e., they may be of transverse, compressional, or mixed polarization. Spectral analysis shows peak power at various frequencies, corresponding, for example, to water group or hydrogen ion cyclotron resonances. Analysis of a peculiar type of oscillation with 25 sec period suggests strong contributions from off-angle propagating waves.

Glassmeier, K. H.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Intra-Seasonal Monthly Oscillations in Stratospheric NCEP Data and Model Results

Intra-seasonal oscillations (ISO) are observed in the zonal-mean of mesospheric wind and temperature measurements-and the numerical spectral model (NSM) generates such oscillations. Relatively large temperature ISO are evident also in stratospheric CPC (NCEP) data at high latitudes, where the NSM produces amplitudes around 3 K at 30 km. Analyzing the NCEP data for the years 1996-2006, we find in Fourier spectra signatures of oscillations with periods between 1.7 and 3 months. With statistical confidence levels exceeding 70%, the spectral features are induced by nonlinear interactions involving the annual and semi-annual variations. The synthesized data show for the 10-year average that the temperature ISO peak in winter, having amplitudes close to 4 K. The synthesized complete spectrum for periods around 2 months produces oscillations, varying from year to year, which can reach peak amplitudes of 15 and 5 K respectively at northern and southern polar latitudes.

Mayr, H. G.↗