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NASA NTRS1993

Automated measurement of polarized bidirectional reflectance

An Automated Bidirectional Reflection Acquisition Measurement System (ABRAMS) has been constructed to facilitate measurement of bidirectional reflectance from soil and vegetative samples in the laboratory. The system illuminates a sample with linearly-polarized laser light, lambda = 632.8 nm, and measures the like- and cross-polarized scattered intensities over half a hemisphere. System design and polarized bidirectional reflectance measurements from a soil sample and SiO2 spherical particles are discussed in this work. It is shown that polarization information in the plane of incidence is useful for identifying certain scattering mechanisms associated with soil reflectance. This is because the like-polarized intensity, Ivv, is influenced by single-scattered light and the cross-polarized intensity, IHv, is strongly influenced by multiple-scattered light. For example, comparable levels of Ivv and IHv indicated that the reflectance of soils, is dominated by significant multiple scattering because single scattering causes minimal depolarization in the plane of incidence.

Gibbs, Daniel P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Polarized and specular reflectance variation with leaf surface features

The linearly polarized reflectance from a leaf depends on the characteristics of the leaf surface. In the present study the leaf reflectance of a number of plant species with varying surface characteristics was measured at the Brewster angle with a polarization photometer having 5 visible and near-infrared wavelength bands. We found that all leaf surfaces polarized incident light. Differences among species could be explained by variation in surface features. The results support our hypothesis that the polarized light is reflected by the leaf surface, not by its interior. Two mechanisms appeared responsible for the linearly polarized reflectance: (1) specular reflectance and (2) surface particle scattering. In most cases, large values of linearly polarized reflectance could be attributed to specular reflectance from the leaf surface. Attribution required knowledge of the optical dimensions of features on the leaf surface.

Grant, Lois↗
NASA NTRS1993

Polarization analysis of a balloon-borne solar magnetograph

The 10(exp -5) polarization specification for the Balloon-borne Vector Magnetograph (BVM) can be met. The 10(exp -5) specification is shown to be a limitation on the diattenuation and retardance along the chief ray path through the optical system, such that the magnitude of the polarization aberration piston term is constrained to be less than .5(10)(exp -5). Coating specification sheets are provided which will ensure that the polarization sensitivity of the BVM will be less than 10(exp -5). An optical design is provided for a vector magnetograph. Finally, to provide a concrete mathematical meaning for polarization sensitivity, the polarization aberration matrix is averaged of the exit pupil. This shows that the coupling between circular and linear states depends only on the magnitude of the polarization aberration piston term.

Reiley, Daniel J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The effect of polar caps on obliquity

Rubincam has shown that the Martian obliquity is dependent on the seasonal polar caps. In particular, Rubincam analytically derived this dependence and showed that the change in obliquity is directly proportional to the seasonal polar cap mass. Rubincam concludes that seasonal friction does not appear to have changed Mars' climate significantly. Using a computer model for the evolution of the Martian atmosphere, Haberle et al. have made a convincing case for the possibility of huge polar caps, about 10 times the mass of the current polar caps, that exist for a significant fraction of the planet's history. Since Rubincam showed that the effect of seasonal friction on obliquity is directly proportional to polar cap mass, a scenario with a ten-fold increase in polar cap mass over a significant fraction of the planet's history would result in a secular increase in Mars' obliquity of perhaps 10 degrees. Hence, the Rubincam conclusion of an insignificant contribution to Mars' climate by seasonal friction may be incorrect. Furthermore, if seasonal friction is an important consideration in the obliquity of Mars, this would significantly alter the predictions of past obliquity.

Lindner, B. L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Effect of high-latitude ionospheric convection on Sun-aligned polar caps

A coupled magnetospheric-ionospheric (M-I) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model has been used to simulate the formation of Sun-aligned polar cap arcs for a variety of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) dependent polar cap convection fields. The formation process involves launching an Alfven shear wave from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere where the ionospheric conductance can react self-consistently to changes in the upward currents. We assume that the initial Alfven shear wave is the result of solar wind-magnetosphere interactions. The simulations show how the E region density is affected by the changes in the electron precipitation that are associated with the upward currents. These changes in conductance lead to both a modified Alfven wave reflection at the ionosphere and the generation of secondary Alfven waves in the ionosphere. The ensuing bouncing of the Alfven waves between the ionosphere and magnetosphere is followed until an asymptotic solution is obtained. At the magnetosphere the Alfven waves reflect at a fixed boundary. The coupled M-I Sun-aligned polar cap arc model of Zhu et al.(1993a) is used to carry out the simulations. This study focuses on the dependence of the polar cap arc formation on the background (global) convection pattern. Since the polar cap arcs occur for northward and strong B(sub y) IMF conditions, a variety of background convection patterns can exist when the arcs are present. The study shows that polar cap arcs can be formed for all these convection patterns; however, the arc features are dramatically different for the different patterns. For weak sunward convection a relatively confined single pair of current sheets is associated with the imposed Alfven shear wave structure. However, when the electric field exceeds a threshold, the arc structure intensifies, and the conductance increases as does the local Joule heating rate. These increases are faster than a linear dependence on the background electric field strength. Furthermore, above the threshold, the single current sheet pair splits into multiple current sheet pairs. For the fixed initial ionospheric and magnetospheric conditions used in this study, the separation distance between the current pairs was found to be almost independent of the background electric field strength. For either three-cell or distorted two-cell background convection patterns the arc formation favored the positive B(sub y) case in the northern hemisphere.

Sojka, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Intensity-dependent circular polarization and circumstellar magnetic fields from the observation of SiO masers

A new aspect of the propagation of astrophysical maser radiation in the presence of a magnetic field is described in which circular polarization is created. The resulting antisymmetric spectral line profile for this circular polarization resembles that produced by the ordinary Zeeman effect when the Zeeman splittings are much less than the spectral line breadth. It is caused by the change, with increasing maser intensity, in the axis of symmetry for the molecular quantum states from a direction that is parallel to the magnetic field to a direction that is parallel to the direction of propagation. When the maser is radiatively saturated, and the rate for stimulated emission is within an order of magnitude of the Zeeman splitting in frequency units, this 'intensity-dependent circular polarization' is greater than that due to the ordinary Zeeman effect by factors as large as 1000. The circular polarization that is observed in the spectra of circumstellar SiO (J = 1-0) masers associated with late-type giants and supergiants may then be caused by magnetic fields as weak as about 10 mG. With the standard Zeeman interpretation of the observations, magnetic fields of 10-100 G are indicated. The lower fields are similar to the limits obtained from the observation of the 22 GHz water masers which are typically somewhat further from the central star. The observed tendency for the fractional linear polarization of SiO masers to increase with increasing angular momentum of the molecular state is shown to be a likely result of anisotropic pumping. Errors are identified that invalidate a recent conflicting claim in the literature about the basic theory of maser polarization in the regime that is relevant here.

Nedoluha, Gerald E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Mixing processes within the polar night jet

Lagrangian material line simulations are performed using U.K. Meteorological Office simulated winds and temperatures to examine mixing processes in the middle- and lower-stratospheric polar night jet during the 1992 Southern Hemisphere spring and Northern Hemisphere winter. The Lagrangian simulations are undertaken to provide insight into the effects of mixing within the polar night jet on observations of the polar vortex made by instruments onboard the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) during these periods. A moderate to strong kinematic barrier to large-scale isentropic exchange, similar to the barrier identified in General Circulation Model (GCM) simulations, is identified during both of these periods. Characteristic timescales for mixing by large-scale isentropic motions within the polar night jet range from 20 days in the Southern Hemisphere lower stratosphere to years in the Northern Hemisphere middle stratosphere. The long mixing timescales found in the Northern Hemisphere polar night jet do not persist. Instead, the Northern Hemisphere kinematic barriers are broken down as part of the large-scale stratospheric response to a strong tropospheric blocking event. A series of Lagrangian experiments are conducted to investigate the sensitivity of the kinematic barrier to diabatic effects and to small-scale inertial gravity wave motions. Differential diabatic descent is found to have a significant impact on mixing processes within the Southern Hemisphere middle-stratospheric jet core. The interaction between small-scale displacements by idealized, inertial gravity waves and the large-scale flow is found to have a significant impact on mixing within the polar night jet in both hemispheres. These sensitivity experiments suggest that scales of motion that are unresolved in global assimilated datasets may contribute to mass exchange across the kinematic barrier to large-scale isentropic motion.

Pierce, R. Bradley↗
NASA NTRS1994

On the motion of air through the stratospheric polar vortex

Trajectory calculations using horizontal winds from the U.K. Meteorological Office data assimilation system and vertical velocities from a radiation calculation are used to simulate the three-dimensional motion of air through the stratospheric polar vortex for Northern Hemisphere (NH) and Southern Hemisphere (SH) winters since the launch of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Throughout the winter, air from the upper stratosphere moves poleward and descends into the middle stratosphere. In the SH lower to middle stratosphere, strongest descent occurs near the edge of the polar vortex, with that edge defined by mixing characteristics. The NH shows a similar pattern in late winter, but in early winter strongest descent is near the center of the vortex, except when wave activity is particularly strong. Strong barriers to latitudinal mixing exist above about 420 K throughout the winter. Below this, the polar night jet is weak in early winter, so air descending below that level mixes between polar and middle latitudes. In late winter, parcels descend less and the polar night jet moves downward, so there is less latitudinal mixing. The degree of mixing in the lower stratosphere thus depends strongly on the position and evolution of the polar night jet and on the amount of descent experienced by the air parcels; these characteristics show considerable interannual variability in both hemispheres. The computed trajectories provide a three-dimensional picture of air motion during the final warming. Large tongues of air are drawn off the vortex and stretched into increasingly long and narrow tongues extending into low latitudes. This vortex erosion process proceeds more rapidly in the NH than in he SH. In the lower stratosphere, the majority of air parcels remain confined within a lingering region of strong potential vorticity gradients into December in the SH and April in the NH, well after the vortex breaks up in the midstratosphere.

Manney, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The effects of gravity darkening on the ultraviolet continuum polarization produced by circumstellar disks

We investigate the effects of gravity darkening on the UV continuum polarization produced by an axisymmetric disk that surrounds a rapidly rotating star. Although the model is a single scattering approximation, we do include the effects of attenuation (electron scattering plus hydrogen bound-free absorption) by the disk, using an approach similar to that of Sobolev (1963). Because of the gravity darkening of the star and the attenuation within the disk, the radiation field is not axially symmetric about the radius vector. This implies that the polarization source functions are no longer provided by the finite disk depolarization factors of Cassinelli, Nordsieck, & Murison (1987), which are functions of the intensity moments in a spherically symmetric atmosphere. We reformulate the polarization source functions using generalized intensity moment tensors (J, H(sub i), K(sub ij)) that are valid for an arbitrary radiation field and envelope geometry. We find that the polarization source functions are simplest when using intensity moments in the observer's reference frame. On the other hand, the intensity moments are most easily evaluated in the stellar reference frame. Using the rotation transformation properties of the generalized intensity moments, we relate the observer's moments to those evaluated in the stellar reference frame. Our procedure for determining the polarization source functions thus merely involves choosing a set of Euler angles for the coordinate rotations, and then evaluating the associated rotation matrix. The geometrical complications of polarization transfer are thus reduced to obtaining a coordinate rotation matrix.

Bjorkman, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Polarization from scattering in blobs

We describe a Monte Carlo method for calculating polarization due to scattering in various geometries. We apply the method in this paper to the case of scattering in a spherical cloud illuminated by parallel rays. The polarization is largest in small optical depth blobs, where single scattering dominates. The polarization decreases as optical depth increases until a limit is reached where scattering occurs on the surface, and increasing optical depth has little effect on the results. For a given optical depth, decreasing the albedo leads to an increase of the degree of polarization of the scattered light because single scattering increases relative to multiple scattering. As the optical depth of the blob increases, the scattered flux becomes increasingly backward throwing. In the high albedo blobs, the maximum polarization becomes skewed towards the illuminated hemisphere at high optical depths. We discuss the applications to polarization in supergiants and R CrB stars, and scattering in a clumpy interstellar medium.

Code, Arthur D.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The polarization and ultraviolet spectrum of Markarian 231

Ultraviolet spectropolarimetry acquired with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) of the peculiar Seyfert galaxy Mrk 231 is combined with new high-quality ground-based measurements to provide the first, nearly complete, record of its linear polarization from 1575 to 7900 A. The accompanying ultraviolet spectrum portrays the heavily extinguished emission-line spectrum of the active nucleus plus the emergence of a blue continuum shortward of approximately 2400 A. In addition, absorption features due to He I lambda 3188, Mg I lambda 2853, Mg II lambda 2798, and especially several resonance multiplets of Fe II are identified with a well-known optical absorption system blueshifted approximately 4600 km/s with respect to emission lines. The continuum is attributed to approximately 10(exp 5) hot, young stars surrounding the nucleus. This component dilutes the polarized nuclear light, implying that the intrinsic polarization of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) spectrum approaches 20% at 2800 A. The rapid decline in degree of polarization toward longer wavelengths is best explained by the strongly frequency-dependent scattering cross section of dust grains coupled with modest starlight dilution. Peculiar S-shaped inflections in both the degree and position angle of polarization through H alpha and other major emission lines are interpreted as effects of scattering from two regions offset in velocity by several hundred km/s. A third source of (weakly) polarized flux is required to explain a nearly 40 deg rotation in position angle between 3200 and 1800 A. The displaced absorption features, polarimetry, and optical/infrared properties of Mrk 231 all point to its classification as a low-ionization, or Mg II broad absorption line quasar, in which most, if not all, lines of sight to the active nucleus are heavily obscured by dust and low-ionization gas clouds.

Smith, Paul S.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Device For Viewing Polarized Light

Technique for detection of polarized light based on observation of scene through two stacked polarizing disks. No need to rotate polarizers to create flicker indicative of polarization. Implemented by relatively simple, lightweight apparatus. Polarization seen as bow-tie rainbow pattern. Advantageous for detecting polarization in variety of meteorological, geological, astronomical, and related applications.

Noever, David A.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Dust in the small Magellanic Cloud. 2: Dust models from interstellar polarization and extinction data

We study the dust in the Small Magellanic Cloud using our polarization and extinction data (Paper 1) and existing dust models. The data suggest that the monotonic SMC extinction curve is related to values of lambda(sub max), the wavelength of maximum polarization, which are on the average smaller than the mean for the Galaxy. On the other hand, AZV 456, a star with an extinction similar to that for the Galaxy, shows a value of lambda(sub max) similar to the mean for the Galaxy. We discuss simultaneous dust model fits to extinction and polarization. Fits to the wavelength dependent polarization data are possible for stars with small lambda(sub max). In general, they imply dust size distributions which are narrower and have smaller mean sizes compared to typical size distributions for the Galaxy. However, stars with lambda(sub max) close to the Galactic norm, which also have a narrower polarization curve, cannot be fit adequately. This holds true for all of the dust models considered. The best fits to the extinction curves are obtained with a power law size distribution by assuming that the cylindrical and spherical silicate grains have a volume distribution which is continuous from the smaller spheres to the larger cylinders. The size distribution for the cylinders is taken from the fit to the polarization. The 'typical', monotonic SMC extinction curve can be fit well with graphite and silicate grains if a small fraction of the SMC carbon is locked up in the grain. However, amorphous carbon and silicate grains also fit the data well. AZV456, which has an extinction curve similar to that for the Galaxy, has a UV bump which is too blue to be fit by spherical graphite grains.

Rodrigues, C. V.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Photoelectron Effects on the Self-Consistent Potential in the Collisionless Polar Wind

The presence of unthermalized photoelectrons in the sunlit polar cap leads to an enhanced ambipolar potential drop and enhanced upward ion acceleration. Observations in the topside ionosphere have led to the conclusion that large-scale electrostatic potential drops exist above the spacecraft along polar magnetic field lines connected to regions of photoelectron production. A kinetic approach is used for the O(+), H(+), and photoelectron (p) distributions, while a fluid approach is used to describe the thermal electrons (e) and self-consistent electric field (E(sub II)) electrons are allowed to carry a flux that compensates for photoelectron escape, a critical assumption. Collisional processes are excluded, leading to easier escape of polar wind particles and therefore to the formation of the largest potential drop consistent with this general approach. We compute the steady state electric field enhancement and net potential drop expected in the polar wind due to the presence of photoelectrons as a function of the fractional photoelectron content and the thermal plasma characteristics. For a set of low-altitude boundary conditions typical of the polar wind ionosphere, including 0.1% photoelectron content, we found a potential drop from 500 km to 5 R(sub E) of 6.5 V and a maximum thermal electron temperature of 8800 K. The reasonable agreement of our results with the observed polar wind suggests that the assumptions of this approach are valid.

Khazanov, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Alignment and Polarization Sensitivity Study for the Cassini-Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) Far InfraRed (FIR) Interferometer

The Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) instrument flying on the Cassini spacecraft to Saturn is a cryogenic spectrometer with far-infrared (FIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) channels. The CIRS FIR channel is a polarizing interferometer that contains three polarizing grid components. These components are an input polarizer, a polarizing beamsplitter, and an output polarizer/analyzer. They consist of a 1.5 micron thick mylar substrate with 2 gm wide copper wires, with 2 gm spacing (4 micron pitch) photolithographically deposited on the substrate. This paper details the polarization sensitivity studies performed on the output polarizer/analyzer, and the alignment sensitivity studies performed on the input polarizer and beamsplitter components in the FIR interferometer.

Crooke, Julie A.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Polarization Considerations

As light passes through a optical system the reflections and refractions will in general change the polarization state of the light. If we assume that all of the materials in the thin film coatings and substrate are isotropic and homogeneous then calculating the amount of "instrumental" polarization is a relatively straight forward task. In the following sections we will present a of the steps required to perform a 'polarization ray trace' calculation for a single ray and monochromatic and hence polarized light. The thin film portion of the calculation is also shown. The reason for explicitly showing the thin film equations is that there are sign conventions imposed on the boundary value equations by the orientation and handedness of the various coordinate frames which are attached to the geometric rays. The attenuation of light through a optical system, is relatively simple, and requires at the very least a lens (average) reflectivity or transmissivity. Determining the polarization sensitivity of a optical system is still relatively straight forward requiring at least a knowledge of the behavior of the "s" and "p" components at each interface for the chief ray. Determining the thin film induced aberrations of a optical system are somewhat more demanding. Questions about the arithmetic sign of the phase factors and how this relates to the overall "OPD" of a ray are ubiquitous. Many rays are required to construct a wavefront. Thin film codes which modify the OPD's of rays are a requirement for this last mentioned computation. This requires a consistent scheme of coordinate frames and sign conventions and is probably the most demanding task of a polarization ray trace. Only the electric field will used in the discussion. This is not a restriction as the Stokes parameters are functions of the electric field. The following does not attempt to explain, but only to present all of the required concepts and formulas.

Waluschka, Eugene↗
NASA NTRS1998

Martian Polar Region Impact Craters: Geometric Properties From Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Observations

The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) instrument onboard the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft has so far observed approximately 100 impact landforms in the north polar latitudes (>60 degrees N) of Mars. Correlation of the topography with Viking Orbiter images indicate that many of these are near-center profiles, and for some of the most northern craters, multiple data passes have been acquired. The northern high latitudes of Mars may contain substantial ground ice and be topped with seasonal frost (largely CO2 with some water), forming each winter. We have analyzed various diagnostic crater topologic parameters for this high-latitude crater population with the objective of characterizing impact features in north polar terrains, and we explore whether there is evidence of interaction with ground ice, frost, dune movement, or other polar processes. We find that there are substantial topographic variations from the characteristics of midlatitude craters in the polar craters that are not readily apparent from prior images. The transition from small simple craters to large complex craters is not well defined, as was observed in the midlatitude MOLA data (transition at 7-8 km). Additionally, there appear to be additional topographic complexities such as anomalously large central structures in many polar latitude impact features. It is not yet clear if these are due to target-induced differences in the formation of the crater or post-formation modifications from polar processes.

Garvin, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Global Observation of Substorm Growth Phase Processes in the Polar Caps

Global images of the polar cap region during the substorm growth phase by the Polar Ultraviolet Imager reveals evidence of the processes which are not completely explained by current models. In particular, it was found that size of the polar cap region increases during the growth phase even if the interplanetary magnetic field has no southward component. Three phenomena were observed to produce an increase in the size of the polar cap: (1) motion of the auroral oval to lower latitude, (2) thinning of the auroral oval, and (3) reduction of intense aurora[ precipitation in the polar region. Correlation of image intensities with in situ particle measurements from the FAST satellite are being conducted to study the three growth phase phenomena; and to help identify the source regions of the particles, the mechanisms involved in producing the auroral structures and what may be reducing the polar cap precipitation during the substorm growth phase.

Brittnacher, M.↗