Title
Spectropolarimeter for planetary exploration (SPEX): performance measurements with a prototype
Author
Voors, R.
Moon, S.G.
Hannemann, S.
Rietjens, J.H.H.
van Harten, G.
Snik, F.
Smit, M.
Stam, D.M.
Keller, C.U.
Laan, E.C.
Verlaan, A.L.
Vliegenthart, W.A.
ter Horst, R.
Navarro, R.
Wielinga, K.
Publication year
2011
Abstract
SPEX (Spectropolarimeter for Planetary Exploration) was developed in close cooperation between scientific institutes and space technological industries in the Netherlands. It is used for measuring microphysical properties of aerosols and cloud particles in planetary atmospheres. SPEX utilizes a number of novel ideas. The key feature is that full linear spectropolarimetry can be performed without the use of moving parts, using an instrument of approximately 1 liter in volume. This is done by encoding the degree and angle of linear polarization (DoLP and AoLP) of the incoming light in a sinusoidal modulation of the intensity spectrum. Based on this principle, and after gaining experience from breadboard measurements using the same principle, a fully functional prototype was constructed. The functionality and the performance of the prototype were shown by extensive testing. The simulated results and the laboratory measurements show striking agreement. SPEX would be a valuable addition to any mission that aims to study the composition and structure of planetary atmospheres, for example, missions to Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Titan. In addition, on an Earth-orbiting satellite, SPEX could give unique information on particles in our own atmosphere.
Subject
Aerosol
Polarimetry
Remote sensing
Spectropolarimetry
Spex
Cloud particles
Earth orbiting satellites
Extensive testing
Functional Prototypes
Incoming light
Intensity spectrum
Jupiters
Key feature
Laboratory measurements
Linear polarization
Microphysical property
Moving parts
Netherlands
Performance measurements
Planetary atmosphere
Planetary exploration
Scientific institutes
Simulated results
Sinusoidal modulation
Spectropolarimeters
Spectropolarimetry
Spex
Atmospheric aerosols
Interplanetary flight
Remote sensing
Satellites
Interplanetary spacecraft
Industrial Innovation
Physics & Electronics
SSE - Space Systems Engineering
TS - Technical Sciences
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a3462c90-36f3-43ce-8a59-1f0df487f62f
TNO identifier
442952
ISBN
9780819488039
ISSN
0277-786X
Source
Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XV, 19-22 September 2011, Prague, Czechoslovakia, 8176 (8176)
Series
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Document type
conference paper