Paper
11 December 1992 Linear polarization sensitivity specifications for spaceborne instruments
Peter William Maymon, Russell A. Chipman
Author Affiliations +
Abstract
The radiometric accuracy of space-borne instruments such as radiometers and spectroradiometers which make measurements of the earth and other celestial objects can be compromised by the linear polarization sensitivity (LPS) induced by the optical system. Most of these optical systems contain optical elements whose reflectance or transmission is polarization dependent, such as diffraction gratings, folding and scanning mirrors, dichroic filters, and optical fibers. Optical system incorporating such elements generally display linear polarization sensitivity; different linear polarization states incident with equal radiometric power will be measured as different power levels. If the incident polarization state is unknown, the linear polarization sensitivity cannot be compensated during the data reduction. The light reflected from the earth and other planets and moons is usually partially linearly polarized, but in a random distribution. Thus, to make accurate radiometric measurements of these bodies, a radiometer or spectrometer should have a low level of linear polarization sensitivity. This paper contains a mathematical description of LPS, contains references to systems which have imposed a LPS specification, describes some of the sources of LPS, describes how to model LPS by polarization ray tracing, and discusses methods to reduce the LPS of an optical system.
© (1992) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Peter William Maymon and Russell A. Chipman "Linear polarization sensitivity specifications for spaceborne instruments", Proc. SPIE 1746, Polarization Analysis and Measurement, (11 December 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.138783
Lens.org Logo
CITATIONS
Cited by 6 scholarly publications.
Advertisement
Advertisement
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission  Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace
KEYWORDS
Polarization

Mirrors

Dielectric polarization

Picosecond phenomena

Sensors

Ray tracing

Interfaces

RELATED CONTENT

CLASS: the cosmology large angular scale surveyor
Proceedings of SPIE (July 23 2014)
Three-dimensional polarization ray tracing, retardance
Proceedings of SPIE (September 09 2010)
Polarization Ray Tracing
Proceedings of SPIE (June 10 1987)
VIIRS polarization sensitivity testing and analysis
Proceedings of SPIE (August 11 2009)

Back to Top